Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/3363

 PUBLIC LAW 109–163—JAN. 6, 2006

119 STAT. 3345

institution of higher education during any reasonable period of transition between the dependent’s completion of a full-time course of study in a secondary school and the commencement of an enrollment in a full-time course of study in an institution of higher education, as determined by the administering Secretary. ‘‘(4) The terms and conditions under which health benefits are provided under this chapter to a dependent of a deceased member under paragraph (2) shall be the same as those that would apply to the dependent under this chapter if the member were living and serving on active duty for a period of more than 30 days. ‘‘(5) In this subsection, the term ‘TRICARE Prime’ means the managed care option of the TRICARE program.’’. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 7, 2001, and shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after that date. SEC. 716. TRICARE STANDARD IN TRICARE REGIONAL OFFICES.

(a) RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRICARE REGIONAL OFFICE.—The responsibilities of each TRICARE Regional Office shall include the monitoring, oversight, and improvement of the TRICARE Standard option in the TRICARE region concerned, including— (1) identifying health care providers who will participate in the TRICARE program and provide the TRICARE Standard option under that program; (2) communicating with beneficiaries who receive the TRICARE Standard option; (3) outreach to community health care providers to encourage their participation in the TRICARE program; and (4) publication of information that identifies health care providers in the TRICARE region concerned who provide the TRICARE Standard option. (b) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary of Defense shall submit an annual report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the monitoring, oversight, and improvement of TRICARE Standard activities of each TRICARE Regional Office. The report shall include— (1) a description of the activities of the TRICARE Regional Office to monitor, oversee, and improve the TRICARE Standard option; (2) an assessment of the participation of eligible health care providers in TRICARE Standard in each TRICARE region; and (3) a description of any problems or challenges that have been identified by both providers and beneficiaries with respect to use of the TRICARE Standard option and the actions undertaken to address such problems or challenges. (c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘TRICARE Standard’’ or ‘‘TRICARE standard option’’ means the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services option under the TRICARE program.

10 USC 1079 note. 10 USC 1073 note.

SEC. 717. QUALIFICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVING AS TRICARE REGIONAL DIRECTORS.

(a) QUALIFICATIONS.—Effective as of the date of the enactment of this Act, no individual may be selected to serve in the position of Regional Director under the TRICARE program unless the individual—

VerDate 14-DEC-2004

10 USC 1073 note. Effective date.

07:21 Oct 30, 2006

Jkt 039194

PO 00003

Frm 00813

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL003.119

APPS06

PsN: PUBL003

�