EQUITABLE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIFORM COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIFORMED SERVICES TREATMENT FACILITIES.

SEC. 726. EQUITABLE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIFORM COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIFORMED SERVICES TREATMENT FACILITIES. (a) Time for Fee Implementation.— The uniform managed care benefit fee and copayment schedule developed by the Secretary of Defense for use in all managed care initiatives of the military health service system, including the managed care program of the Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities, shall be extended to the managed care program of a Uniformed Services Treatment Facility only after the later of— (1) the implementation of the TRICARE regional program covering the service area of the Uniformed Services Treatment Facility; or (2) October 1, 1996. (b) Submission of Actuarial Estimates.— Paragraph (2) of subsection (a) shall operate as a condition on the extension of the uniform managed care benefit fee and copayment schedule to the Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities only if the Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities submit to the Comptroller General of the United States, within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, actuarial estimates in support of their contention that the extension of such fees and copayments will have an adverse effect on the operation of the Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities and the enrollment of participants. (c) Evaluation.— (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress the results of an evaluation of the effect on the Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities of the extension of the uniform benefit fee and copayment schedule to the Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities. The evaluation shall include an examination of whether the benefit fee and copayment schedule may— (A) cause adverse selection of enrollees; (B) be inappropriate for a fully at risk program similar to civilian health maintenance organizations; or 110 STAT. 380 (C) result in an enrolled population dissimilar to the general beneficiary population. (2) The Comptroller General shall not be required to prepare or submit the evaluation under paragraph (1) if the Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities fail to satisfactorily comply with subsection (b), as determined by the Comptroller General.