Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/1552

 PUBLIC LAW 108–136—NOV. 24, 2003

117 STAT. 1533

for achieving and maintaining participation of health care providers in TRICARE Standard in each TRICARE market area in a number that is adequate to ensure the viability of TRICARE Standard for TRICARE beneficiaries in that market area. (2) The official designated under paragraph (1) shall have the following duties: (A) To educate health care providers about TRICARE Standard. (B) To encourage health care providers to accept patients under TRICARE Standard. (C) To ensure that TRICARE beneficiaries have the information necessary to locate TRICARE Standard providers readily. (D) To recommend adjustments in TRICARE Standard provider payment rates that the official considers necessary to ensure adequate availability of TRICARE Standard providers for TRICARE Standard beneficiaries. (c) GAO REVIEW.—(1) The Comptroller General shall, on an ongoing basis, review— (A) the processes, procedures, and analysis used by the Department of Defense to determine the adequacy of the number of health care providers— (i) that currently accept TRICARE Standard beneficiaries as patients under TRICARE Standard in each TRICARE market area (as of the date of completion of the review); and (ii) that would accept TRICARE Standard beneficiaries as new patients under TRICARE Standard in each TRICARE market area (within a reasonable time after the date of completion of the review); and (B) the actions taken by the Department of Defense to ensure ready access of TRICARE Standard beneficiaries to health care under TRICARE Standard in each TRICARE market area. (2)(A) The Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a semiannual report on the results of the review under paragraph (1). The first semiannual report shall be submitted not later than June 30, 2004. (B) The semiannual report under subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i) An analysis of the adequacy of the surveys under subsection (a). (ii) The adequacy of existing statutory authority to address inadequate levels of participation by health care providers in TRICARE Standard. (iii) Identification of policy-based obstacles to achieving adequacy of availability of TRICARE Standard health care in the TRICARE market areas. (iv) An assessment of the adequacy of Department of Defense education programs to inform health care providers about TRICARE Standard. (v) An assessment of the adequacy of Department of Defense initiatives to encourage health care providers to accept patients under TRICARE Standard.

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