My Cardiologist drops TRICARE Prime

[Snaquebite]

So...after seeing the same cardiologist/surgeon since late March I receive a letter on 3 Jan from Pinehurst Cardiology that they are no longer accepting TRICARE Prime after 1 January 2014. However, They will continue to see me if I pay out of network deductibles and fees. (This is the cardiology clinic Womack sent me to). I have been very pleased with my care but I am not willing to pay the out of network fees etc.
I contacted TRICARE to ask why I was not notified of this from them since I have appointments this and next week with still valid referrals. My answer: They don't do this. It's left to the doctor.
Regardless, I had to go back to my primary care physician who had to contact TRICARE in order to obtain a referral for an in-network provider.

When I asked Pinehurst why they were dropping TRICARE Prime they basically told me they had been under contract with TRICARE for a long time however a provision under "Obamacare" allowed them to get out of the contract. The decision was made solely on profit/loss considerations.

I'm sure there will be a lot of retired TRICARE Prime enrollees in the area unhappy about changing their cardiologists.