The hospital at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, is shown in an undated photo. A hospital policy that limited family medicine appointments for civilians and retirees during the season for military moves was reversed June 15, 2026. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
NAPLES, Italy — U.S. Naval Hospital Naples has backtracked a decision that would have kept Defense Department civilians and retirees from scheduling appointments with their family medicine providers for months.
The addition of temporary staffing assistance from military hospitals in Europe and virtual visit support from the Defense Health Agency will enable the medical facility on Naval Support Activity Naples to forgo the appointment restrictions announced earlier this month, a Facebook post Monday said.
“Effective immediately, the appointment limits announced on June 2 are no longer in effect and you can continue to schedule your appointments exactly as you have in the past,” the hospital said in the post.
A Defense Health Agency spokeswoman did not specify the roles of the healthcare professionals that would be sent to the hospital in Naples but did say that the agency’s system is able to shift resources when a facility is in need.
DHA would continue to work with USNH Naples to provide the manning support needed to continue delivering health care to its community, she said.
“Like the broader military community, we are not immune to reduced manning during PCS season, which impacts the number of available appointments,” she said. “Through sharing network resources and adding virtual care options, USNH Naples is able to increase the number of appointments available to the community.”
She added that military medical facilities, such as USNH Naples, are able to establish their own space available care policies based on their respective manning and resources, as defined by federal policies and regulations.
The turnabout came the same day hospital officials had said they would begin limiting civilians and retirees to same-day visits subject to appointment availability. That policy was intended to last through at least September.
The change was initially considered necessary to ensure that the hospital could care for active-duty service members and their families during the busy PCS season. That’s when thousands of military personnel and their families move to their next duty location, increasing the demand for health care.
The abrupt restriction alarmed civilians and retirees who rely on the hospital for their medical needs.
Besides reducing their options, it also left them unprepared to deal with language barriers, upfront payments and other challenges associated with seeking care from Italian providers, they said.
The hospital’s latest announcement drew praise from one member of the community who previously voiced concerns about the short notice.
“We really appreciate your listening and reacting quickly,” Emily Painter-Davis said in a comment on the hospital’s Monday post.
Painter-Davis is married to a retired soldier who spent 23 years in the Army. She said the issue never was about prioritizing the care of active-duty military personnel but rather about the timing and communication issues.
The limitations were announced June 2, less than two weeks before they were set to take effect.
In the Facebook post, the hospital said routine medical questions or prescription renewals can be handled through an online portal, which lets users make appointments, check test results and communicate with hospital staffers.
Tricare beneficiaries also can seek advice through a phone line connecting them with a registered nurse, according to the post. That line is open around the clock every day.
Virtual urgent care appointments for Tricare beneficiaries ages 12 and older that need treatment for sinus congestion and infections, cough, allergies, sore or hoarse throat, headaches and other ailments also are available, the DHA spokeswoman said.
Those appointments can be made through the registered nurse call line, at 1-800-TRICARE, or online via https://mhsnurseadviceline.com/home.
