Sec. 708. ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR BENEFICIARIES ELIGIBLE FOR TRICARE AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE
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## SEC. 708 ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR BENEFICIARIES ELIGIBLE FOR TRICARE AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE **[**[10 U.S.C. 1071 note](/us/usc/t10/s1071)**]** ###
(a)Requirement To Establish Process ####
(1)The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe in regulations a process for resolving issues relating to patient safety and continuity of care for covered beneficiaries who are concurrently entitled to health care under the TRICARE program and eligible for health care services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary shall— #####
(A)ensure that the process provides for coordination of, and access to, health care from the two sources in a manner that prevents diminution of access to health care from either source; and #####
(B)in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, prescribe a clear definition of an “episode of care” for use in the resolution of patient safety and continuity of care issues under such process. ####
(2)Not later than May 1, 2003, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and of the House of Representatives a report describing the process prescribed under paragraph (1). ####
(3)While prescribing the process under paragraph
(1)and upon completion of the report under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide to the Comptroller General information that would be relevant in carrying out the study required by subsection (b). ###
(b)Comptroller General Study and Report ####
(1)The Comptroller General shall conduct a study of the health care issues of covered beneficiaries described in subsection (a). The study shall include the following: #####
(A)An analysis of whether covered beneficiaries who seek services through the Department of Veterans Affairs are receiving needed health care services in a timely manner from the Department of Veterans Affairs, as compared to the timeliness of the care available to covered beneficiaries under TRICARE Prime (as set forth in access to care standards under TRICARE program policy that are applicable to the care being sought). #####
(B)An evaluation of the quality of care for covered beneficiaries who do not receive needed services from the Department of Veterans Affairs within a time period that is comparable to the time period provided for under such access to care standards and who then must seek alternative care under the TRICARE program. #####
(C)Recommendations to improve access to, and timeliness and quality of, care for covered beneficiaries described in subsection (a). #####
(D)An evaluation of the feasibility and advisability of making access to care standards applicable jointly under the TRICARE program and the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. #####
(E)A review of the process prescribed by the Secretary of Defense under subsection
(a)to determine whether the process ensures the adequacy and quality of the health care services provided to covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program and through the Department of Veterans Affairs, together with timeliness of access to such services and patient safety. ####
(2)Not later than 60 days after the congressional committees specified in subsection (a)(2) receive the report required under that subsection, the Comptroller General shall submit to those committees a report on the study conducted under this subsection. ###
(c)Definitions In this section: ####
(1)The term “**covered beneficiary**” has the meaning provided by section 1072(5) of title 10, United States Code. ####
(2)The term “**TRICARE program**” has the meaning provided by section 1072(7) of such title. ####
(3)The term “**TRICARE Prime**” has the meaning provided by section 1097a(f) of such title. * * * * * * * ## subtitle C Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Health Resources Sharing
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Sec. 708
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR BENEFICIARIES ELIGIBLE FOR TRICARE AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE
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