Military Officer - July 2006 - (Page 36) washingtonscene 2007 Defense Authorization Bill Provisions Health Care Issues Issue TRICARE fee increases Senate (S. 2766) Bar any TRICARE Prime or Standard fee increases before Sept. 30, 2007. Require GAO review of DoD cost-saving efforts. Eliminate copayments for most drugs in TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP). Authorize DoD to implement $5 generic and $15 retail copayments. Limit TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) premium increases to 2.2% for 2007. House (H.R. 5122) Similar provisions, but bar increases through Dec. 31, 2007. Establish commission to review fee issues and alternatives. Eliminate most TMOP drug copayments. Increase retail copayments to $6 and $16 for generic and brand-name drugs, respectively. Bar premium increases through Dec. 31, 2007. Make all drilling servicemembers eligible for same premiums (as members mobilized since Sept. 11, 2001), as of Jan. 1, 2008. Bar employers from paying TRICARE-eligible employees to use TRICARE rather than employer plan. MOAA Position Support House version. TRICARE pharmacy copayments Support zero TMOP copayments to promote its use. Oppose such large retail copayment increases, especially for drugs not available in TMOP. Support House version. TRICARE coverage for Selected Reserve TRICARE Standard enrollment Bar employers from paying TRICARE-eligible employees to use TRICARE versus employer plan. Require one-time $25 TRICARE Standard enrollment fee ($40 for families). Bar conversion unless DoD certifies it won’t affect access, quality, or costs. No provision MOAA does not support a TRICARE Standard enrollment fee. Restriction on employer payments is preferable to large retiree fee increases. Civilianization of military medical positions Incentive payments for medical providers in underserved areas Military health care funding No similar provision Support Senate provision. Authorize 5% or 10% payment increase in areas with provider shortages. Clarify that no TRICARE For Life (TFL) costs should be charged against Defense budget. Support House version. No similar provision Support House provision. $10 billion TFL charge led Pentagon to propose large retiree fee increases. 38 MILITARY OFFICER J U LY 2 0 0 6
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.