Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by Dr. Julie Kim

Tricare covers TMS therapy for depression, but how you get there depends on your plan. Tricare Prime members start with a referral from their PCM. Tricare Select members can book directly with Brainwave, with no referral needed. Either way, every patient meets with our provider for an initial consultation before we request TMS authorization from TriWest.

This guide walks through both plans step by step for Tricare West beneficiaries in Arizona.

First, the rules that apply to everyone…

No matter your plan, TMS at Brainwave requires:

• An initial consultation with our provider. Every patient has one before we submit for TMS authorization.
• Preauthorization from TriWest before any TMS session
• Age 18 or older
• A primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder
• At least two antidepressant trials from different classes, each for six weeks or more, with less than 25% improvement

Brainwave’s standard course is five sessions a week for six weeks. TriWest allows up to 36 sessions within a 90-day window, so the standard course fits inside that limit. Your approval confirms how many sessions are authorized.

Tricare Prime: Start With Your PCM

On Tricare Prime, your Primary Care Manager (PCM) coordinates your care. For TMS:

1. Talk to your PCM. Tell them antidepressants haven’t worked well enough and you’d like a TMS evaluation at Brainwave Neuro Performance Center.
2. Ask for a referral to Brainwave. Your PCM submits the referral to Tricare, and it includes authorization for your initial consultation with our provider. It helps to include your diagnosis, the medications you’ve tried (names, doses, how long), and any therapy history.
3. Schedule your initial consultation. Once your referral is approved, our new patient coordinator will get you on the calendar to meet with our provider.
4. We submit the TMS authorization to TriWest after your consultation, along with your records.
5. You get a decision. We’ll call you to schedule as soon as you’re approved.

Why the referral matters on Prime: if you go outside the network or skip a required referral, you may face point-of-service charges. Because Brainwave is in-network, a proper referral keeps your costs at the Prime level.

Tricare Select: No Referral Needed

Tricare Select gives you more freedom to choose providers, and it usually comes with a deductible and cost-shares. You don’t need a referral to see Brainwave.

With Select, you can come straight to us. TMS still needs TriWest’s preauthorization:

1. Book an initial consultation with Brainwave directly. No PCM referral is required.
2. Meet with our provider. We’ll review your symptoms, diagnosis and treatment history. We may request records from your other providers to support your authorization.
3. We submit the TMS authorization to TriWest after your consultation.
4. Start treatment once approved.

Select usually involves an annual deductible and a cost-share for each visit. We’ll verify your exact numbers before you start.

Prime vs. Select At A Glance

What Slows Approval Down (And How To Avoid It)

• Incomplete medication history. List every antidepressant you’ve tried, with the dose and how long you took it. Old pharmacy records help.
• Records that don’t reflect your depression diagnosis. TriWest approves TMS only when major depression is the primary diagnosis. Make sure your records accurately describe the depression you’re being treated for.
• A missing or expired referral (Tricare Prime members).

What About Tricare Reserve Select and Tricare For Life?

• Tricare Reserve Select works much like Select. No PCM referral is needed, and TMS still needs TriWest’s authorization after your initial consultation.
• Tricare For Life pays after Medicare. Brainwave doesn’t bill Medicare, so call us before scheduling to talk through your coverage and self-pay options.

Let Us Handle the Paperwork

Brainwave Neuro Performance Center is veteran-owned and in-network with Tricare West for TMS for depression. Our coordinator handles scheduling, records requests and the TriWest authorization so you can focus on getting better. Call (520) 633-0206 or request a free consultation to get started.