Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 3.djvu/230

 114 STAT. 1654A-188 PUBLIC LAW 106-398 —APPENDIX "(i) VOLUNTARY DISENROLLMENT.—(1) With respect to enrollment in the dental insurance plan established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense— "(A) shall allow for a period of up to 30 days at the beginning of the prescribed minimum enrollment period during which an enrollee may disenroll; and "(B) shall provide for limited circumstances under which disenrollment shall be permitted during the prescribed enrollment period, without jeopardizing the fiscal integrity of the dental program. "(2) The circumstances described in paragraph (1)(B) shall include— "(A) a case in which a retired member, surviving spouse, or dependent of a retired member who is also a Federal employee is assigned to a location outside the jurisdiction of the dental insurance plan established under subsection (a) that prevents utilization of dental benefits under the plan; "(B) a case in which a retired member, surviving spouse, or dependent of a retired member is prevented by a serious medical condition from being able to obtain benefits under the plan; "(C) a case in which severe financial hardship would result; and "(D) any other circumstances which the Secretary considers appropriate. "(3) The Secretary shall establish procedures for timely decisions on requests for disenrollment under this section and for appeal to the TRICARE Management Activity of adverse decisions.". (b) CLARIFYING AMENDMENT.— The heading for subsection (f) is amended by striking "TERMINATION" and inserting "REQUIRED TERMINATIONS". SEC. 727. CLAIMS PROCESSING IMPROVEMENTS. Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, to the maximum extent practicable, take all necessary actions to implement the following improvements with respect to processing of claims under the TRICAJIE program: (1) Use of the TRICARE encounter data information system rather than the health care service record in maintaining information on covered beneficiaries under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code. (2) Elimination of all delays in payment of claims to health care providers that may result from the development of the health care service record or TRICARE encounter data information. (3) Requiring all health care providers under the TRICARE program that the Secretary determines are high-volume providers to submit claims electronically. (4) Processing 50 percent of all claims by health care providers and institutions under the TRICARE program by electronic means. (5) Authorizing managed care support contractors under the TRICARE program to require providers to access information on the status of claims through the use of telephone automated voice response units.

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