Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/2326

 PUBLIC LAW 109–364—OCT. 17, 2006

120 STAT. 2295

Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom on the members who incur such an injury and their families. (b) DURATION.—The study required by subsection (a) shall be conducted for a period of 15 years. (c) ELEMENTS.—The study required by subsection (a) shall specifically address the following: (1) The long-term physical and mental health effects of traumatic brain injuries incurred by members of the Armed Forces during service in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. (2) The health care, mental health care, and rehabilitation needs of such members for such injuries after the completion of inpatient treatment through the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or both. (3) The type and availability of long-term care rehabilitation programs and services within and outside the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs for such members for such injuries, including community-based programs and services and in-home programs and services. (4) The effect on family members of a member incurring such an injury. (d) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct the study required by subsection (a) and prepare the reports required by subsection (e) in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (e) PERIODIC AND FINAL REPORTS.—After the third, seventh, eleventh, and fifteenth years of the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a comprehensive report on the results of the study during the preceding years. Each report shall include the following: (1) Current information on the cumulative outcomes of the study. (2) Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly consider appropriate based on the outcomes of the study, including recommendations for legislative, programmatic, or administrative action to improve long-term care and rehabilitation programs and services for members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injuries.

Subtitle C—Planning, Programming, and Management SEC.

731.

STANDARDIZATION OF CLAIMS PROCESSING TRICARE PROGRAM AND MEDICARE PROGRAM.

UNDER

(a) IN GENERAL.—Effective beginning with the next contract option period for managed care support contracts under the TRICARE program, the claims processing requirements under the TRICARE program on the matters described in subsection (b) shall be identical to the claims processing requirements under the Medicare program on such matters. (b) COVERED MATTERS.—The matters described in this subsection are as follows: (1) The utilization of single or multiple provider identification numbers for purposes of the payment of health care claims by Department of Defense contractors.

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