To require a report on the future availability of TRICARE Prime throughout the United States.

1. Adds SEC. 704. REPORT ON THE FUTURE AVAILABILITY OF TRICARE PRIME THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES at the end of subtitle A of title VII

   Adds a section

   In S. 3254 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   Section 717(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (Public Law 106-104; 110 Stat. 376; 10 U.S.C. 1073 note) is amended by striking "military retirees" and inserting "members of the Armed Forces (whether in the regular or reserve components) and their dependents, military retirees and their dependents, dependent children under the age of 21, and dependents of members on active duty with severe disabilities and chronic health care needs".

   Inserted: SEC. 704. REPORT ON THE FUTURE AVAILABILITY OF TRICARE PRIME THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

   Inserted: (a) Report Required.--Not later than 120 days 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 setting forth the policy of the Department of Defense on the future availability of TRICARE Prime under the TRICARE program for eligible beneficiaries in all TRICARE regions throughout the United States.

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

   Inserted: (1) A description, by region, of the difference in availability of TRICARE Prime for eligible beneficiaries (other than eligible beneficiaries on active duty in the Armed Forces) under newly-awarded TRICARE managed care contracts, including, in particular, an identification of the regions or areas in which TRICARE Prime will no longer be available for such beneficiaries under such contracts.

   Inserted: (2) A description of the transition and outreach plans for eligible beneficiaries described in paragraph (1) who will no longer have access to TRICARE Prime under the contracts described in that paragraph.

   Inserted: (3) An estimate of the increased costs to be incurred for healthcare under the TRICARE program for eligible beneficiaries described in paragraph (2).

   Inserted: (4) An estimate of the saving to be achieved by the Department as a result of the contracts described in paragraph (1).

   Inserted: (5) A description of the plans of the Department to continue to assess the impact on access to healthcare for eligible beneficiaries described in paragraph (2).

   Original wording

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

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As printed