Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/3376

 119 STAT. 3358

PUBLIC LAW 109–163—JAN. 6, 2006 (C) The implementation and use of quality improvement and chronic care improvement programs for Department of Defense beneficiaries. (D) Beneficiary satisfaction. (E) The near term and long term effect on all existing Department of Defense contracts for health care support, including TRICARE managed care contracts, claims processing contracts, and pharmacy contracts. (F) A comparison of the costs and benefits of using existing Department of Defense contractors or new Department of Defense contractors who are qualified as the vehicle for conducting the demonstration. (b) PLAN.— (1) REQUIREMENT.—If the Secretary of Defense determines under subsection (a) that the demonstration project is feasible, cost effective, and in the best interests of the Department of Defense and eligible beneficiaries, the Secretary, in coordination with other administering Secretaries, shall develop a plan to carry out the demonstration project. (2) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.— (A) HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.—In the plan, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe the minimum health care benefits to be provided under the plan to eligible beneficiaries enrolled in the plan. Those benefits shall include at least all health care services covered under part A and part B of medicare and TRICARE for Life. (B) DEMONSTRATION SERVICE AREA.—In the plan, the Secretary shall provide for conducting the demonstration in at least two demonstration service areas. (C) ELIGIBILITY.—In the plan, the Secretary shall provide that any eligible beneficiary who meets the eligibility requirements for participation in the Medicare Advantage Regional Preferred Provider Organization plan who resides in the demonstration service area is eligible to enroll in the demonstration on a voluntary basis. (D) DURATION.—In the plan, the Secretary shall provide for conducting the demonstration for a period of time consistent with decisions made by the Department of Defense to exercise remaining option periods on the managed care support contract covering the area where the demonstration occurs. (E) EVALUATION OF THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.— The plan shall include a plan to evaluate the costs and benefits of all elements of the demonstration project, including the elements described in subsection (a)(2) and, in addition, the financial mechanisms used in carrying out the demonstration project. (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (1) ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARY.—The term ‘‘eligible beneficiary’’ means a person who is eligible for both TRICARE and medicare under section 1086(d)(2) of title 10, United States Code. (2) MEDICARE.—The term ‘‘medicare’’ means title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). (3) ADMINISTERING SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘administering Secretaries’’ has the meaning provided by section 1072(3) of title 10, United States Code.

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