Sec. 725. PILOT PROGRAM ON URGENT CARE UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM
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## SEC. 725 PILOT PROGRAM ON URGENT CARE UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM **[**[10 U.S.C. 1073 note](/us/usc/t10/s1073)**]** ###
(a)Pilot Program ####
(1)In general Commencing not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot program to allow a covered beneficiary under the TRICARE program access to urgent care visits without the need for preauthorization for such visits. ####
(2)Duration The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program for a period of three years. ####
(3)Incorporation of nurse advice line The Secretary shall incorporate the nurse advise line of the Department into the pilot program to direct covered beneficiaries seeking access to care to the source of the most appropriate level of health care required to treat the medical conditions of the beneficiaries, including urgent care under the pilot program. ###
(b)Publication The Secretary shall— ####
(1)publish information on the pilot program under subsection
(a)for the receipt of urgent care under the TRICARE program— #####
(A)on the primary publically available Internet website of the Department; and #####
(B)on the primary publically available Internet website of each military medical treatment facility; and ####
(2)ensure that such information is made available on the primary publically available Internet website of each current managed care contractor that has established a health care provider network under the TRICARE program. ###
(c)Reports ####
(1)First report #####
(A)In general Not later than one year after the date on which the pilot program under subsection
(a)commences, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the pilot program. #####
(B)Elements The report under subparagraph
(1)shall include the following: ######
(i)An analysis of urgent care use by covered beneficiaries in military medical treatment facilities and the TRICARE purchased care provider network. ######
(ii)A comparison of urgent care use by covered beneficiaries to the use by covered beneficiaries of emergency departments in military medical treatment facilities and the TRICARE purchased care provider network, including an analysis of whether the pilot program decreases the inappropriate use of medical care in emergency departments. ######
(iii)A determination of the extent to which the nurse advice line of the Department affected both urgent care and emergency department use by covered beneficiaries in military medical treatment facilities and the TRICARE purchased care provider network. ######
(iv)An analysis of any cost savings to the Department realized through the pilot program. ######
(v)A determination of the optimum number of urgent care visits available to covered beneficiaries without preauthorization. ######
(vi)An analysis of the satisfaction of covered beneficiaries with the pilot program. ####
(2)Second report Not later than two years after the date on which the pilot program commences, the Secretary shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1)(A) an update to the report required by such paragraph, including any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to extending or making permanent the pilot program and a description of any related legislative actions that the Secretary considers appropriate. ####
(3)Final report Not later than 180 days after the date on which the pilot program is completed, the Secretary shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1)(A) a final report on the pilot program that updates the report required by paragraph (2). ###
(d)Definitions In this section, the terms “covered beneficiary” and “TRICARE program” have the meaning given such terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.
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Sec. 725
PILOT PROGRAM ON URGENT CARE UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM
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