|
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR OF 2007
109th Congress
Public Law 109-364
SEC. 711. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TASK FORCE ON THE FUTURE OF MILITARY HEALTH CARE.
| (a) |
|
REQUIREMENT TO ESTABLISH.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish within the Department of Defense a task force to examine matters relating to the future of military health care. |
| (b) |
|
COMPOSITION.— |
|
|
| (1) |
|
MEMBERS.—The task force shall consist of not more than 14 members appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among individuals described in paragraph (2) who have demonstrated expertise in the area of health care programs and costs. |
| (2) |
|
RANGE OF MEMBERS.—The individuals appointed to the task force shall include— |
|
|
| (A) |
|
at least one member of each of the Medical Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force; |
| (B) |
|
a number of persons from outside the Department of Defense equal to the total number of personnel from within the Department of Defense (whether members of the Armed Forces or civilian personnel) who are appointed to the task force; |
| (C) |
|
persons who have experience in— |
|
|
| (i) |
|
health care actuarial forecasting; |
| (ii) |
|
health care program and budget development; |
| (iii) |
|
health care information technology; |
| (iv) |
|
health care performance measurement; |
| (v) |
|
health care quality improvement including evidence-based medicine; and |
| (vi) |
|
women’s health; |
|
| (D) |
|
the senior medical advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; |
| (E) |
|
the Director of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics; |
| (F) |
|
at least one member from the Defense Business Board; |
| (G) |
|
at least one representative from an organization that advocates on behalf of active duty and retired members of the Armed Forces who has experience in health care; and |
| (H) |
|
at least one member from the Institute of Medicine. |
|
| (3) |
|
INDIVIDUALS APPOINTED OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.— |
|
|
| (A) |
|
Individuals appointed to the task force from outside the Department of Defense may include officers or employees of other departments or agencies of the Federal Government, officers or employees of State and local governments, or individuals from the private sector. |
| (B) |
|
Individuals appointed to the task force from outside the Department of Defense shall include— |
|
|
| (i) |
|
an officer or employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and |
| (ii) |
|
an officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services. |
|
|
| (4) |
|
DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—All appointments of individuals to the task force shall be made not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. |
| (5) |
|
CO-CHAIRS OF TASK FORCE.—There shall be two cochairs of the task force. One of the co-chairs shall be designated by the Secretary of Defense at the time of appointment from among the Department of Defense personnel appointed to the task force. The other co-chair shall be selected from among the members appointed from outside the Department of Defense by members so appointed. |
|
| (c) |
|
ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF MILITARY HEALTH CARE.— |
|
|
| (1) |
|
IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after the date on which all members of the task force have been appointed, the task force shall submit to the Secretary a report containing Reports containing an assessment of, and recommendations for, sustaining the military health care services being provided to members of the Armed Forces, retirees, and their families. |
| (2) |
|
UTILIZATION OF OTHER EFFORTS.—In preparing the report, the task force shall take into consideration the findings and recommendations included in the Healthcare for Military Retirees Task Group of the Defense Business Board, previous Government Accountability Office reports, studies and reviews by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, and any other studies or research conducted by organizations regarding program and organizational improvements to the military health care system. |
| (3) |
|
ELEMENTS.—The assessment and recommendations (including recommendations for legislative or administrative action) shall include measures to address the following: |
|
|
| (A) |
|
Wellness initiatives and disease management programs of the Department of Defense, including health risk tracking and the use of rewards for wellness.
|
| (B) |
|
Education programs focused on prevention awareness and patient-initiated health care. |
| (C) |
|
The ability to account for the true and accurate cost of health care in the military health system. |
| (D) |
|
Alternative health care initiatives to manage patient behavior and costs, including options and costs and benefits of a universal enrollment system for all TRICARE users.
|
| (E) |
|
The appropriate command and control structure within the Department of Defense and the Armed Forces to manage the military health system. |
| (F) |
|
The adequacy of the military health care procurement system, including methods to streamline existing procurement activities. |
| (G) |
|
The appropriate mix of military and civilian personnel to meet future readiness and high-quality health care service requirements. |
| (H) |
|
The beneficiary and Government cost sharing structure required to sustain military health benefits over the long term. |
| (I) |
|
Programs focused on managing the health care needs of Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries. |
| (J) |
|
Efficient and cost effective contracts for health care support and staffing services, including performance-based requirements for health care provider reimbursement. |
|
|
| (d) |
|
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.— |
|
|
| (1) |
|
COMPENSATION.—Each member of the task force who is a member of the Armed Forces or a civilian officer or employee of the United States shall serve without compensation (other than compensation to which entitled as a member of the Armed Forces or an officer or employee of the United States, as the case may be). Other members of the task force shall be treated for purposes of section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, as having been appointed under subsection (b) of such section. |
| (2) |
|
OVERSIGHT.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall oversee the activities of the task force. |
| (3) |
|
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Washington Headquarters Services of the Department of Defense shall provide the task force with personnel, facilities, and other administrative support as necessary for the performance of the duties of the task force. |
| (4) |
|
ACCESS TO FACILITIES.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, ensure appropriate access by the task force to military installations and facilities for purposes of the discharge of the duties of the task force. |
|
| (e) |
|
REPORTS.— |
|
|
| (1) |
|
INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than May 31, 2007, the task force shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives an interim report on the activities of the task force. At a minimum, the report shall include interim findings and recommendations regarding subsection (c)(3)(H), particularly with regard to cost sharing under the pharmacy benefits program. |
| (2) |
|
FINAL REPORT.—(A) The task force shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a final report on its activities under this section. The report shall include— |
|
|
| (i) |
|
a description of the activities of the task force;
|
| (ii) |
|
the assessment and recommendations required by subsection (c); and |
| (iii) |
|
such other matters relating to the activities of the task force that the task force considers appropriate. |
|
|
|
(B) Not later than 90 days after receipt of the report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall transmit the report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Secretary may include in the transmittal such comments on the report as the Secretary considers appropriate. |
|
| (f) |
|
TERMINATION.—The task force shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the final report of the task force is transmitted to Congress under subsection (e)(2).
|
| Link to Section 711: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/toGPObss/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ364.109.pdf |
|
