Sec. 748. ASSESSMENT OF TRANSITION TO TRICARE PROGRAM BY FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AND ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN CHARGES FOR SUCH FAMILIES
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## SEC. 748 ASSESSMENT OF TRANSITION TO TRICARE PROGRAM BY FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AND ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN CHARGES FOR SUCH FAMILIES ###
(a)Assessment of Transition to TRICARE Program ####
(1)In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall complete an assessment of the extent to which families of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces serving on active duty pursuant to a call or order to active duty for a period of more than 30 days experience difficulties in transitioning from health care arrangements relied upon when the member is not in such an active duty status to health care benefits under the TRICARE program. ####
(2)Elements The assessment under paragraph
(1)shall address the following: #####
(A)The extent to which family members of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces are required to change health care providers when they become eligible for health care benefits under the TRICARE program. #####
(B)The extent to which health care providers in the private sector with whom such family members have established relationships when not covered under the TRICARE program are providers who— ######
(i)are in a preferred provider network under the TRICARE program; ######
(ii)are participating providers under the TRICARE program; or ######
(iii)will agree to treat covered beneficiaries at a rate not to exceed 115 percent of the maximum allowable charge under the TRICARE program. #####
(C)The extent to which such family members encounter difficulties associated with a change in health care claims administration, health care authorizations, or other administrative matters when transitioning to health care benefits under the TRICARE program. #####
(D)Any particular reasons for, or circumstances that explain, the conditions described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C). #####
(E)The effects of the conditions described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and
(C)on the health care experience of such family members. #####
(F)Recommendations for changes in policies and procedures under the TRICARE program, or other administrative action by the Secretary, to remedy or mitigate difficulties faced by such family members in transitioning to health care benefits under the TRICARE program. #####
(G)Recommendations for legislative action to remedy or mitigate such difficulties. #####
(H)Such other matters as the Secretary determines relevant to the assessment. ####
(3)Report #####
(A)In general Not later than 180 days after completing the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report detailing the results of the assessment. #####
(B)Analysis of recommendations The report required by subparagraph
(A)shall include an analysis of each recommendation for legislative action addressed under paragraph (2)(G), together with a cost estimate for implementing each such action. ###
(b)Expansion of Authority To Eliminate Balance Billing Section 1079(h)(4)(C)(ii) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “in support of a contingency operation under a provision of law referred to in section 101(a)(13)(B) of this title”. ###
(c)Definitions 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.