TED Processes Billionth Record
The TRICARE Encounter Data reached a major milestone May 26 when its billionth record was processed.
Known as TED, the global system was built and is maintained by the Defense Health Services Systems Resources Division and is designed to efficiently process purchased care data records for TRICARE.
In addition, TED records are used to reimburse health care and administrative dollars, identify fraud, waste and abuse and provide data for developing health care trends and budget projections, said TRICARE officials. The system also provides rapid data record processing that aids in prompt payments to civilian providers.
“We sincerely appreciate the hard work and innovation involved in this milestone,” said Navy Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, deputy director of TRICARE Management Activity. “TED has helped TRICARE provide outstanding health care around the world. The efficiency and ingenuity has strengthened the TRICARE network.”
Officials credit the streamlined payment process enabled through TED as a reason for provider satisfaction. On a daily basis civilian providers submit claims for their payments to regional contractors who, after processing the claim, send a TED record to TRICARE. The system then verifies and analyzes the information in each submitted record, allowing payments to occur within 30 days in most cases.
“TED’s simple, yet innovative global interface allows purchased care records to be transferred seamlessly from providers to TRICARE and back at remarkable speed and volume,” said Sandy Jones, TED program manager.
Since 2004, TED has become one of the fastest claims processing systems in the world. It typically processes 700,000 records in just more than three hours and collects, verifies and tracks billions of dollars each year in purchased care for the Military Health System. It has processed $140 billion of purchased care transactions in support of the 9.6 million TRICARE beneficiaries worldwide.
“This milestone reflects the solid, tangible, value of electronic claims processing in helping TRICARE provide the Military Health System and its beneficiaries with the best health care available in the world,” said John Arendale, chief of TRICARE Purchased Care Systems Integration.
Mike Smith, Defense Health Services System