S.Amdt. 5564

1. Adds SEC. 714. ENHANCEMENTS OF EXTENDED CARE HEALTH OPTION PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE at the end of subtitle B of title VII

   Adds a section

   In S. 3001 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   "(D) Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, the total cost incurred by the United States for the provision of transportation and expenses (including per diem) with respect to a dependent under this paragraph may not exceed the cost the United States would otherwise incur for the provision of transportation and expenses with respect to the dependent under paragraph (1) if the transportation and expenses were provided to the dependent under paragraph (1) rather than this paragraph.".

   Inserted: SEC. 714. ENHANCEMENTS OF EXTENDED CARE HEALTH OPTION PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

   Inserted: (a) Increase in Amount of Reimbursement for Certain Costs.--The maximum monthly amount of reimbursement for health care services for a family of a member of the Armed Forces under the Extended Care Health Option program shall be $5,000.

   Inserted: (b) Eligibility for Participation in Program After Retirement or Separation From the Armed Forces.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a member of a regular component of the Armed Forces who retires from the Armed Forces shall be eligible for health care benefits under the Extended Care Health Option program during the one-year period beginning on the date of the retirement of the member from the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (2) Disabled members.--A member of a regular component of the Armed Forces who is retired or separated from the Armed Forces for disability under chapter 61 of title 10, United States Code, shall be eligible for health care benefits under the Extended Care Health Option program during the two-year period beginning on the date of the retirement or separation of the member from the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (3) Family members.--The family members of a member of the Armed Forces eligible for health care benefits under the Extended Care Health Option program under this subsection are eligible for health care benefits under the program during the period of the member's eligibility for benefits under the program.

   Inserted: (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the Extended Care Health Option program. The report shall include the following:

   Inserted: (1) An assessment of the effectiveness of the Extended Care Health Option program in meeting the objectives of the program, including the effectiveness of the program in providing to beneficiaries the health care services which the program was established to provide.

   Inserted: (2) For the most recent fiscal year for which data is available, a description for each medical condition for which health care services are provided under the Extended Care Health Option program of the number of military families participating in the program whose monthly costs for such services exceeded $2,500, and a statement of the reasons why the monthly costs of such families for such services have exceeded such amount.

   Inserted: (d) Extended Care Health Option Program Defined.--In this section, the term "Extended Care Health Option program" means the program of extended benefits provided pursuant to subsections (d), (e), and (f) of section 1079 of title 10, United States Code.

   Original wording

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

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed