Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 1.djvu/711

 PUBLIC LAW 106-65—OCT. 5, 1999 113 STAT. 687 " (h) WAIVER OF REQUIREMENTS FOR SURVIVING DEPENDENTS.— The Secretary of Defense may waive (in whole or in part) any requirements of a dental plan established under this section as the Secretary determines necessary for the effective administration of the plan for a dependent who is an eligible dependent described in subsection (k)(2). "(i) AUTHORITY SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATIONS.— The authority of the Secretary of Defense to enter into a contract under this section for any fiscal year is subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose. " (j) LIMITATION ON REDUCTION OF BENEFITS. — The Secretary of Defense may not reduce benefits provided under a plan established under this section until— "(1) the Secretary provides notice of the Secretary's intent to reduce such benefits to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and "(2) one year has elapsed following the date of such notice, "(k) ELIGIBLE DEPENDENT DEFINED. — In this section, the term 'eligible dependent' — "(1) means a dependent described in subparagraph (A), (D), or (I) of section 1072(2) of this title; and "(2) includes any such dependent of a member who dies while on active duty for a period of more than 30 days or a member of the Ready Reserve if the dependent is enrolled on the date of the death of the member in a dental benefits plan established under subsection (a), except that the term does not include the dependent after the end of the one-year period beginning on the date of the member's death.", (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT. —The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 55 of such title is amended by striking out the items relating to sections 1076a and 1076b and inserting the following: "1076a. TRICARE dental program.". SEC. 712. IMPROVEMENT OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE UNDER THE TRICAKE PROGRAM. (a) ACCESS.— The Secretary of Defense shall, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize the authorization and certification requirements imposed on covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program as a condition of access to benefits under that program. (b) REPORT ON INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE ACCESS.— Not later than March 31, 2000, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on specific actions taken to— (1) reduce the requirements for preauthorization for care under the TRICARE program; (2) reduce the requirements for beneficiaries to obtain preventive services, such as obstetric or gynecologic examinations, mammograms for females over 35 years of age, and urological examinations for males over the age of 60 without preauthorization; and (3) reduce the requirements for statements of nonavailability of services. (c) REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE STATEMENT.— Section 1080(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: "Notwithstanding any other provision Notice. 10 USC 1073 note. Deadline. 10 USC 1073 note.

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