Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks Disrupts Health Care for Colorado Springs Area Military Retirees

Tens of thousands of military retirees and family members in Colorado Springs, Colo., have found obtaining medical care and prescriptions at area military hospitals and clinics "difficult to impossible" in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports. Many military retirees receive medical care and medications at Evans Army Community Hospital, the Air Force Academy Hospital and the Peterson Air Force Base Clinic under TriCare, the U.S. military health insurance program. However, in recent days, "getting care is just too difficult to attempt," some military retirees said, citing restricted access to area facilities and "hours-long traffic jams" at entrance gates. The three facilities have canceled most routine doctor visits, and the Peterson clinic has stopped filling prescriptions. On average, the clinic fills more than 800 prescriptions daily. According to advocacy groups, many military retirees have "given up waiting in long lines" to receive their prescriptions and have decided to "wait out the heightened security crisis." Master Sgt. Debbie Grant, a spokesperson for Peterson Air Force Base, also said that many military retirees have used the Air Force Academy Hospital pharmacy. The pharmacy, which fills about 500 to 1,000 prescriptions daily, has filled more than 2,000 per day in recent days. In addition, Grant said that most local pharmacies will refill existing TriCare prescriptions. "We have an agreement where local pharmacists may call the clinic here to OK refills," Grant said. Refills cost $3 for generic and $9 for brand-name drugs. The Gazette reports that some larger area pharmacy chains have had a "substantial increase" in business from military employees and retirees (Gonzales, Colorado Springs Gazette, 9/13).