Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 3.djvu/229

 PUBLIC LAW 106-398—APPENDIX 114 STAT. 1654A-187 (F) education of beneficiaries regarding the military health care system and the TRICARE program; and (G) education of health care providers regarding such system and program; and (3) may be implemented through a contractor under TRICARE Prime. (c) AREAS OF IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall implement the system required by subsection (a) in at least one region under the TRICARE program. (d) PLAN FOR IMPROVED PORTABILITY OF BENEFITS. —Not later than March 15, 2001, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan to provide portability and reciprocity of benefits for all enrollees under the TRICARE program throughout all TRICARE regions. (e) INCREASE OF USE OF MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILI- TIES. —The Secretary shall initiate a program to maximize the use of military medical treatment facilities by improving the efficiency of health care operations in such facilities. (f) DEFINITION.— In this section the term "TRICARE program" has the meaning given such term in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code. SEC. 724. EXTENSION OF TRICARE MANAGED CARE SUPPORT CON- TRACTS. (a) AUTHORITY.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subsection (b), any TRICARE managed care support contract in effect, or in the final stages of acquisition, on September 30, 1999, may be extended for four years. (b) CONDITIONS.— Any extension of a contract under subsection (a)— (1) may be made only if the Secretary of Defense determines that it is in the best interest of the United States to do so; and (2) shall be based on the price in the final best and final offer for the last year of the existing contract as adjusted for inflation and other factors mutually agreed to by the contractor and the Federal Government. SEC. 725. REPORT ON PROTECTIONS AGAINST HEALTH CARE PROVID- ERS SEEKING DIRECT REIMBURSEMENT FROM MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES. Not later than January 31, 2001, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report recommending practices to discourage or prohibit health care providers under the TRICARE program, and individuals or entities working on behalf of such providers, from seeking direct reimbursement from members of the uniformed services or their dependents for health care received by such members or dependents. SEC. 726. VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF ENROLLMENT IN TRICARE RETIREE DENTAL PROGRAM. (a) PROCEDURES.— Section 1076c of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection (i):

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