TRICARE, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), covers all medically necessary services provided by PAs. PAs must be supervised in accordance with state law and their supervising physicians must be authorized TRICARE providers. The PA’s employer receives payment for the services provided by the PA.

The allowable charge for all medical services provided by PAs under TRICARE Standard, the fee-for-service program, except assisting at surgery, is 85 percent of the allowable fee for comparable services rendered by a physician in a similar location. Reimbursement for assisting at surgery is 65 percent of the physician's allowable fee for comparable services.

PAs are eligible providers of care under TRICARE's managed care programs, TRICARE Prime and Extra. TRICARE Prime is similar to an HMO. TRICARE Extra is run like a preferred provider organization in which practitioners agree to accept a predetermined discounted fee for their services.