Sec. 703. Modifications relating to coverage of telehealth services under TRICARE program and other matters
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Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1076f the following new section: During a covered health emergency— no cost sharing amount (including copayments and deductibles, as applicable) may be charged under the TRICARE program to a covered beneficiary for a telehealth service; telehealth appointments that involve audio communication shall be considered to be telehealth appointments for purposes of coverage under the TRICARE program, notwithstanding that such appointments do not involve video communication; and the Secretary of Defense may reimburse providers of telehealth services under the TRICARE program for the provision of such services to covered beneficiaries regardless of whether the provider is licensed in the State in which the covered beneficiary is located.
Subsection (a)(3) shall apply with respect to a provider located in a foreign country if the provider holds a license to practice that is determined by the Secretary to be an equivalent to a U.S. license and the provider is authorized to practice by the respective foreign government. The Secretary may extend the coverage requirements under subsection
(a)for a period of time after the date on which a covered health emergency terminates, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. In this section, the term covered health emergency means a national emergency or disaster related to public health that is declared pursuant to the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. ), the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. ), section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d ), or any other Federal law determined relevant by the Secretary. . Such chapter is further amended in the table of sections by inserting after the item relating to section 1076f the following new item: 1076g. TRICARE program: coverage of telehealth services during certain health emergencies. . The amendments made by paragraph
(1)shall apply with respect to the emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020, pursuant to section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5191(b) ) with respect to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19). The Secretary shall extend the telehealth coverage requirements pursuant to section 1074g(c) of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), until the date that is 180 days after the date on which the emergency specified in subparagraph
(A)terminates. Notwithstanding section 10145 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of a military department may prescribe regulations to carry out a pilot program under which a retired member of a regular component of the Armed Forces entitled to retired pay may be placed in the Ready Reserve if the Secretary concerned— determines that the retired member has more than 20 years of creditable service in that regular component; and makes a special finding that the member possesses a skill in which the Ready Reserve of the Armed Force concerned has a critical shortage of personnel. The authority of the Secretary concerned under subparagraph
(A)may not be delegated— to a civilian officer or employee of the military department concerned below the level of Assistant Secretary; or to a member of the Armed Forces below the level of the lieutenant general or vice admiral in an Armed Force with responsibility for military personnel policy in that Armed Force. Notwithstanding section 12316 of such title 10, a member placed in the Ready Reserve under paragraph
(1)may receive— retired pay; and the pay and allowances authorized by law for duty that member performs. A pilot program under this subsection shall terminate not later than four years after the date of the enactment of this Act. Not later than 90 days after a pilot program terminates under paragraph (3), the Secretary concerned shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding such pilot program, including the recommendation of the Secretary concerned whether such pilot program should be made permanent. An eligible retired or former member may elect to participate in the Survivor Benefit Plan during the open enrollment period specified in paragraph (4). For purposes of subparagraph (A), an eligible retired or former member is a member or former member of the uniformed services who, on the day before the first day of the open enrollment period, discontinued participation in the Survivor Benefit Plan under section 1452(g) of title 10, United States Code, and— is entitled to retired pay; or would be entitled to retired pay under chapter of title 10, United States Code (or chapter 67 of such title as in effect before October 5, 1994), but for the fact that such member or former member is under 60 years of age. A person making an election under subparagraph
(A)by reason of eligibility under subparagraph (B)(i) shall be treated for all purposes as providing a standard annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan. A person making an election under subparagraph
(A)by reason of eligibility under subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be treated for all purposes as providing a reserve-component annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan. An election under this subsection must be made in writing, signed by the person making the election, and received by the Secretary concerned before the end of the open enrollment period. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any such election shall be made subject to the same conditions, and with the same opportunities for designation of beneficiaries and specification of base amount, that apply under the Survivor Benefit Plan. A person making an election under paragraph
(1)to provide a reserve-component annuity shall make a designation described in section 1448(e) of title 10, United States Code. An election under this subsection is not effective unless the person making the election declares the election to be voluntary. An election to participate in the Survivor Benefit Plan under this subsection may not be required by any court. An election to participate or not to participate in the Survivor Benefit Plan is not subject to the concurrence of a spouse or former spouse of the person. Any such election shall be effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the month in which the election is received by the Secretary concerned. The open enrollment period is the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on January 1, 2023. The provisions of sections 1449, 1453, and 1454 of title 10, United States Code, are applicable to a person making an election, and to an election, under this subsection in the same manner as if the election were made under the Survivor Benefit Plan. The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe in regulations premiums which a person electing under this subsection shall be required to pay for participating in the Survivor Benefit Plan pursuant to the election. The total amount of the premiums to be paid by a person under the regulations shall be equal to the sum of— the total amount by which the retired pay of the person would have been reduced before the effective date of the election if the person had elected to participate in the Survivor Benefit Plan (for the same base amount specified in the election) at the first opportunity that was afforded the member to participate under chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code; interest on the amounts by which the retired pay of the person would have been so reduced, computed from the dates on which the retired pay would have been so reduced at such rate or rates and according to such methodology as the Secretary of Defense determines reasonable; and any additional amount that the Secretary determines necessary to protect the actuarial soundness of the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund against any increased risk for the fund that is associated with the election. Premiums paid under the regulations shall be credited to the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund. In this subsection: The term Survivor Benefit Plan means the program established under subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code. The term retired pay includes retainer pay paid under section 8330 of title 10, United States Code. The terms uniformed services and Secretary concerned have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 37, United States Code. The term Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund means the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund established under section 1461(a) of title 10, United States Code.
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Sec. 703
Modifications relating to coverage of telehealth services under TRICARE program and other matters
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