341st Medical Group Malmstrom AFB: Healthcare Guide | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer The 341st Medical Group at Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) serves as the primary military treatment facility (MTF) for the Great Falls, Montana area. It provides outpatient clinical care, pharmacy services, and dental support to active duty members and their families using TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. Because it is a clinic-only facility with no emergency room or inpatient beds, serious cases are referred to local civilian partners like Benefis Health System.

## In detail The 341st Medical Group (341 MDG) operates under the "Medics of the North" moniker. As part of the Air Force Global Strike Command, its primary mission is the medical readiness of personnel supporting the Minuteman III missile wing.

### Available Services Unlike large military hospitals, the 341 MDG is an outpatient clinic. Services include: * **Family Practice & Pediatrics:** Primary care for all ages. * **Flight Medicine:** Specialized care for aircrews and personnel on flight status. * **Dental Support:** Primarily for active duty members. * **Mental Health:** Counseling and psychiatric services. * **Pharmacy:** On-site prescriptions and a drive-thru refill pharmacy. * **Radiology & Laboratory:** Basic diagnostic imaging and blood work.

### Referral Process and Network Care Because Malmstrom does not have inpatient capabilities, TRICARE beneficiaries often utilize the local civilian network in the **West Region**, managed by **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (as of 2025). * **Emergency Care:** There is no ER at Malmstrom. Beneficiaries must use civilian hospitals (e.g., Benefis Health System) for emergencies. * **Specialty Care:** If a service (like cardiology or surgery) is not available at the 341 MDG, TRICARE Prime members will receive a referral to a network provider via TriWest.

### Pharmacy Services The 341 MDG Pharmacy is a significant benefit for local retirees and families. * **Formulary:** To check if a specific medication is stocked, use the Express Scripts Formulary Search Tool. * **Costs:** Prescriptions filled at the Malmstrom base pharmacy have a **$0 copay** for all TRICARE beneficiaries.

Comparison: Prime vs. Select at Malmstrom (2026 Rates)

| Feature | TRICARE Prime | TRICARE Select | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Primary Care** | 341 MDG (PCP assigned) | Choice of any network provider | | **Referrals** | Required for specialty care | Generally not required | | **Active Duty Family Copay** | $0 (2026) | Varies (Approx. $30-$50 for specialist) | | **Retiree Family Copay** | $0 at MTF; ~$30+ in network | Deductible + % of allowable charge |

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Must receive all primary care at 341 MDG and require referrals for any outside care. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Can choose TRICARE Prime (care at 341 MDG with no copays) or TRICARE Select (can use local Great Falls civilian doctors with out-of-pocket costs). * **Retirees under age 65:** Eligible for Space-Available care at the clinic and $0 copay pharmacy refills. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL) Beneficiaries:** Primarily use the 341 MDG for pharmacy services; medical care is typically handled by Medicare and civilian providers.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: Active Duty Pharmacy Refill (2026)** An active duty Technical Sergeant needs a routine allergy medication. They have the script sent to the 341 MDG pharmacy. They pick it up at the drive-thru. * **Total Cost:** $0.

**Scenario 2: TRICARE Select Specialist Visit** The spouse of an Airman is enrolled in TRICARE Select. She visits a civilian dermatologist in Great Falls for a skin consultation. As a Group A beneficiary in 2026, she pays her annual deductible (if not met) and a fixed copayment (typically around $40-$50 for a specialist visit in 2026).

**Scenario 3: Emergency at Night** A dependent child at Malmstrom spikes a high fever at 2 AM. Since the 341 MDG is closed, the family goes to the Benefis Emergency Room. For TRICARE Prime families, the emergency room copay is $0 for active duty dependents (2026 rates).

## Related terms * **MTF (Military Treatment Facility):** A clinic or hospital operated by the Department of Defense. * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** The private contractor managing TRICARE benefits in the West Region as of Jan 1, 2025. * **PCM (Primary Care Manager):** The specific doctor or clinic responsible for your basic healthcare. * **Space-Available Care:** Medical care provided to non-Prime beneficiaries (like retirees) only if the clinic has open appointments. * **DEERS:** The database used to verify TRICARE eligibility.

## Sources * **Malmstrom AFB Official Site:** [malmstrom.af.mil](https://www.malmstrom.af.mil/) * **TRICARE MTF Locator:** [tricare.mil/mtf](https://tricare.mil/mtf) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * **Express Scripts TRICARE Pharmacy:** [militaryrx.express-scripts.com](https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/)