Outpatient care

Outpatient care is care you get without being admitted to a hospital, such as office visits, lab tests, X-rays, and same-day surgery.

Applies to: All TRICARE plans · All regions

Outpatient care is care you receive without being admitted to a hospital as an inpatient. Medicare’s description of outpatient hospital services includes visits to an outpatient clinic (including same-day surgery), laboratory tests, X-rays and other radiology services, medical supplies such as splints and casts, and preventive and screening services.

The label matters under TRICARE because rules often differ for outpatient and inpatient care. For example, TRICARE’s mental health page says some plans need no referral for outpatient visits but do require authorization for inpatient stays; see how to get mental health care. Costs and authorization rules vary by plan, so check the page for your plan.

Source for the definition: Medicare.gov, outpatient hospital services.