REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIREMENTS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRICARE PROGRAM AND EMPLOYER-SPONSORED GROUP HEALTH PLANS.

SEC. 727. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIREMENTS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRICARE PROGRAM AND EMPLOYER-SPONSORED GROUP HEALTH PLANS.(a) Report Required.—Not later than March 31, 2010, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of the requirements of section 1097c of title 10, United States Code, relating to the relationship between the TRICARE program and employer-sponsored group health plans.(b) Elements.—The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:(1) A description of the extent to which the Secretary has established measures to assess the effectiveness of section 1097c of title 10, United States Code, in reducing health care costs to the Department for military retirees and their families, and an assessment of the effectiveness of any measures so established.(2) An assessment of the extent to which the implementation of such section 1097c has resulted in the migration of military retirees from coverage under the TRICARE Standard option of the TRICARE program to coverage under the TRICARE Prime option of the TRICARE program.(3) A description of the exceptions adopted under subsection (a)(2) of such section 1097c to the requirements under such section 1097c, and an assessment of the effect of the exercise of any exceptions adopted on the administration of such section 1097c.(4) An assessment of the extent to which the Secretary collects and assembles data on the treatment of employees eligible for participation in the TRICARE program in comparison with similar employees who are not eligible for participation in that program.(5) A description of the outreach conducted by the Secretary to inform individuals eligible for participation in the TRICARE program and employers of their respective rights and responsibilities under such section 1097c, and an assessment of the effectiveness of any outreach so conducted.(6) Such other matters with respect to the administration and effectiveness of the authorities in such section 1097c as the Secretary considers appropriate.