To require a report on an expanded partnership between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs for the provision of health care services.

1. Adds SEC. __. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES at the end of subtitle B of title VII

   Adds a section

   In S. 1042 · Public Print

   (b) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2006, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the study required by subsection (a).

   Inserted: SEC. __. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

   Inserted: (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the feasibility of an expanded partnership between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs for the provision of health care services.

   Inserted: (b) Report Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

   Inserted: (1) An overview of the current health care systems of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including--

   Inserted: (A) the total number of eligible beneficiaries in each system as of September 30, 2005;

   Inserted: (B) the total number of current consumers of health care services in each system as of that date;

   Inserted: (C) the total cost of each system in the most recent fiscal year for which complete cost data for both systems exists;

   Inserted: (D) the annual workload or production of health care by beneficiary category in each system in the most recent fiscal year for which complete data on workload or production of health care for both systems exists;

   Inserted: (E) the total cost of health care by beneficiary category in each system in the most recent fiscal year for which complete cost data for both systems exists;

   Inserted: (F) the total staffing of medical and administrative personnel in each system as of September 30, 2005;

   Inserted: (G) the number and location of facilities, including both hospitals and clinics, operated by each system as of that date; and

   Inserted: (H) the size, capacity, and production of graduate medical education programs in each system as of that date.

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   Inserted: (2) A comparative analysis of the characteristics of each health care system, including a determination and comparative analysis of--

   Inserted: (A) the mission of such systems;

   Inserted: (B) the demographic characteristics of the populations served by such systems;

   Inserted: (C) the categories of eligibility for health care services in such systems;

   Inserted: (D) the nature of benefits available by beneficiary category in such systems;

   Inserted: (E) access to and quality of health care services in such systems;

   Inserted: (F) the out-of-pocket expenses for health care by beneficiary category in such systems;

   Inserted: (G) the structure and methods of financing the care for all categories of beneficiaries in such systems;

   Inserted: (H) the management and acquisition of medical equipment and supplies in such systems, including pharmaceuticals and prosthetic and other medical assistive devices;

   Inserted: (I) the mix of health care services available in such systems;

   Inserted: (J) the current inpatient and outpatient capacity of such systems; and

   Inserted: (K) the human resource systems for medical personnel in such systems, including the rates of compensation for civilian employees.

   Inserted: (3) A summary of current sharing efforts between the health care systems of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (4) An assessment of the advantages and disadvantages for military retirees and their dependents participating in the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs of an expanded partnership betwen the health care systems of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, with a separate assessment to be made for--

   Inserted: (A) military retirees and dependents under the age of 65; and

   Inserted: (B) military retirees and dependents over the age of 65.

   Inserted: (5) Projections for the future growth of health care costs for retirees and veterans in the health care systems of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including recommendations on mechanisms to ensure more effective and higher quality services in the future for military retirees and veterans now served by both systems.

   Inserted: (6) Options for means of achievinng a more effective partnership between the health care systems of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including options for the expansion of, and enhancement of access of military retirees and their dependents to, the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (c) Solicitation of View.--In preparing the report required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall seek the views of representatives of military family organizations, military retiree organizations, and organizations representing veterans and their families.

   Inserted: (d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, the term "appropriate committees of Congress" means--

   Inserted: (1) the Committees on Armed Services and Veterans Affairs' of the Senate; and

   Inserted: (2) the Committees on Armed Services and Veterans Affairs' of the House of Representatives.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following:

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As printed