How to Request a Referral

If you are ready to map your hormones, tackle post-bariatric weight stalls, or find answers for complex metabolic resistance, we are here to help.

Empower Wellness Clinic is proud to be fully In-Network with TriWest / TRICARE West networks, as well as accepting many commercial insurance lines for our in-person clinic in Killeen, Texas, and via telehealth care.

Navigating insurance rules shouldn't be a barrier to getting expert reproductive endocrine and metabolic care. Below is your step-by-step roadmap to securing your referral smoothly.

Step 1: Check Your Insurance Plan Type

How you get started depends entirely on your specific insurance track. Find your plan below:

TRICARE Prime

  • Referral Required: Yes. To have your consultation and subsequent care fully covered, you must obtain a formal electronic referral from your military PCM (Primary Care Manager).

  • Don't worry—the process is simple, and we provide the exact script to use below!

TRICARE Select

  • Referral Required: No middleman required. You have the freedom to manage your own specialist care paths. You can book directly with us right now without talking to a military clinic first.

TriWest / VA Community Care

  • Referral Required: Yes. Your VA care manager must submit a Community Care network authorization specifically naming our practice to ensure coverage.

Step 2: Submit the Referral Request to Your PCM

For TRICARE Prime patients, you do not need to wait for an in-person doctor's appointment just to ask for a referral. The fastest way to get your paperwork processed is by sending a secure message directly to your PCM team via the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal (or by calling your clinic's phone tree).

📝 Copy & Paste Portal Request Script

When writing your portal message or speaking to your clinic coordinator, use this exact clinical phrasing to bypass standard gatekeeping:

"I am requesting a formal medical referral to specialist Rachel Millard, DNP at Empower Wellness Clinic (Killeen, TX location) for a comprehensive metabolic and endocrine evaluation. I am currently experiencing persistent, multi-system metabolic resistance and hormonal shifts that require advanced tracking outside the scope of primary screening. Please submit this referral to the TRICARE West network so an authorization can be generated

  • Practice Name: Empower Wellness Clinic

  • Provider: Dr. Rachel Millard, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

  • Location: Killeen, TX

  • Phone: 254-321-9157

  • Secure Fax: 949-890-8660

  • NPI: 1720935349"

Step 3: What Happens Next?

Once your PCM clinic hits "submit," here is what to expect behind the scenes:

  • Processing Time: TRICARE West typically takes 3 to 7 business days to review and approve specialized endocrine and metabolic referrals.

  • Tracking Your Status: You can track the status of your approval 24/7 by logging into your secure account at [TRICARE West / TriWest Portal].

  • Your Authorization Letter: Once approved, TRICARE will generate an official Referral Authorization Number specifying the number of allowed specialist visits and the active dates.

Ready to Start? Let Our Care Team Help

As soon as your PCM confirms the referral has been sent—or if you are a TRICARE Select patient ready to book immediately—reach out to us. We will track your authorization tracks on our end so there are no delays in mapping out your clinical recovery.

  • 📱 Text/Call Our Secure Practice Line: 254-321-9157

  • 🌐 Book/Onboard Online: [Click Here to Begin Onboarding]

  • 📍 Our Location: Killeen, Texas (In-Person & Telehealth tracks active for Texas, California, and Montana).

BCBS HMO Referrals: How to Get Your Care Covered

HMO insurance plans love their paperwork, but don't let an administrative gatekeeper stand between you and metabolic or hormonal harmony.

If you are a member of a Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO plan (such as Blue Essentials®, Blue Advantage HMO®, or a regional BCBS HMO network), your plan strictly requires an official, electronic specialist referral from your designated Primary Care Physician (PCP) to cover your visits.

Getting your PCP to submit this referral is a standard, straightforward process. Below is your step-by-step roadmap to securing your insurance approval.

Step 1: Confirm Your BCBS HMO Plan Type

Take a look at the front of your BCBS insurance card. Look for the HMO logo or check if your plan matches one of these common Texas networks:

  • Blue Essentials®

  • Blue Advantage HMO®

  • Blue Premier℠

If your card says BCBS PPO, stop here! You do not need a referral and can jump straight to our online portal to book your evaluation immediately.

Step 2: Submit the Referral Request to Your PCP

You do not necessarily have to schedule an extra, in-person doctor's appointment just to ask for a referral. The fastest way to get this processed is by sending a secure message directly to your doctor's office via your PCP’s Patient Portal (such as MyChart or Athena), or by calling their referral coordinator line. You can also ask them to fill out and sign the referral form.

📝 Copy & Paste Portal Request Script

When messaging your doctor's office, use this exact clinical phrasing to ensure their billing team codes the request accurately:

"I am writing to request an official electronic specialist referral to Rachel Millard, DNP, FNP-C at Empower Wellness Clinic for a comprehensive metabolic and reproductive endocrine evaluation. I am experiencing multi-system metabolic resistance, unprovoked weight set-point shifts, or complex hormonal volatility that requires advanced tracking. Please submit this referral electronically to BCBS so my insurance authorization can be generated."

Step 3: Give Your PCP the Specialist Data

Sometimes, your PCP's referral coordinator just needs the exact practice details to find us in the BCBS system. If they ask for our practice information, provide them with this exact data block:

    • Practice Name: Empower Wellness Clinic

    • Provider: Dr. Rachel Millard, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

    • Location: Killeen, TX

    • Phone: 254-321-9157

    • Secure Fax: 949-890-8660

    • NPI: 1720935349"

Step 4: What Happens Next?

Once your PCP's office submits the electronic request through the insurance system (typically via Availity):

  1. BCBS Processing Time: Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO networks usually take 3 to 5 business days to approve and log the specialist authorization.

  2. Confirmation: You can log into your secure Blue Access for Members℠ (BAM) portal online to confirm the referral is active before your visit.

  3. Connect with Us: As soon as your PCP confirms it has been sent, reach out to our team. We will verify the authorization on our end so we can safely hit the ground running with your lab mapping and clinical care plan!

Ready to Take Control of Your Health?

If you have questions about your BCBS HMO referral tracks or are ready to schedule once your paperwork is submitted, connect with our care team directly.

  • 📱 Secure Practice Text/Call Line: 254-321-9157

  • 🌐 Onboard Directly Online: [Click Here to Start Patient Intake]

  • 🏢 Clinic Location: Killeen, Texas (Serving patients in-person and via virtual telehealth)

Tricare Referral Form
BCBS Referral Form