Sec. 757. GAO study on access to Exceptional Family Member program and Extended Care Health Option program by members of reserve components
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Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall— conduct a study to determine the barriers to members of the reserve components accessing the Extended Care Health Option program and the Exceptional Family Member program of the Department of Defense; and submit to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees a report containing the findings of such study. The report under subsection (a)(2) shall include the following:
A description of the methodology used by the Department of Defense to disseminate information regarding the eligibility of members of the reserve components for the Extended Care Health Option program and the Exceptional Family Member program upon such members commencing the performance of Active Guard and Reserve duty. An identification of the timeline of the enrollment process for members of the reserve components in such programs and any effects of delayed enrollment, such as exclusion from benefits or resources.
An identification of impediments to enrollment in such programs among such members, including an assessment of the following: The availability of resources under such programs, including specialist providers under the Exceptional Family Member program, at the time of enrollment in such programs. The availability of support under such programs at facilities of the reserve components. Any misinformation provided to service members seeking enrollment. With respect to the Exceptional Family Member program— an identification of the number of families with a family member eligible to enroll in such program, disaggregated by whether the member of the reserve component in such family is performing Active Guard and Reserve duty; an assessment of the effects of navigating the process of enrollment in such program on the mission to which the member is assigned while performing Active Guard and Reserve duty; and an identification of the number of specialist providers and staff who support reserve component members through such program.
Recommendations on improving the dissemination of information regarding the eligibility of members of the reserve components for the Extended Care Health Option program and the Exceptional Family Member program. Recommendations on improvements to such programs with respect to the reserve components. The term Active Guard and Reserve has the meaning given such term in section 101(b) of title 10, United States Code.