Sec. 720. Pilot program on incentive programs to improve health care provided under the TRICARE program
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/bill/114/hr/1735/eas/section-720·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot program to assess whether a reduction in the rate of increase in health care spending by the Department of Defense and an enhancement of the operation of the military health system may be achieved by developing and implementing value-based incentive programs to encourage health care providers under the TRICARE program (including physicians, hospitals, and others involved in providing health care to patients) to improve the following:
The quality of health care provided to covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program. The experience of covered beneficiaries in receiving health care under the TRICARE program. The health of covered beneficiaries. In developing an incentive program under this section, the Secretary shall— consider the characteristics of the population of covered beneficiaries affected by the incentive program; consider how the incentive program would impact the receipt of health care under the TRICARE program by such covered beneficiaries; establish or maintain a reasonable assurance that such covered beneficiaries will have timely access to health care during operation of the incentive program; ensure that there are no additional financial costs to such covered beneficiaries of implementing the incentive program; and consider such other factors as the Secretary considers appropriate.
With respect to an incentive program developed and implemented under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that— the size, scope, and duration of the incentive program is reasonable in relation to the purpose of the incentive program; and appropriate criteria and data collection are used to ensure adequate evaluation of the feasibility and advisability of implementing the incentive program throughout the TRICARE program. In developing an incentive program under this section, the Secretary may adapt a value-based incentive program conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or any other governmental or commercial health care program.
The authority of the Secretary to carry out the pilot program under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2019. Not later than March 15, 2019, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the pilot program that includes the following: An assessment of each incentive program developed and implemented under this section, including whether such incentive program— improves the quality of health care provided to covered beneficiaries, the experience of covered beneficiaries in receiving health care under the TRICARE program, or the health of covered beneficiaries; reduces the rate of increase in health care spending by the Department of Defense; or enhances the operation of the military health system.
Such recommendations for administrative or legislative action as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of the pilot program, including to implement any such incentive program or programs throughout the TRICARE program. In this section, the terms covered beneficiary and TRICARE program have the meanings given those terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.