SYSTEM FOR TRACKING DATA AND MEASURING PERFORMANCE IN MEETING TRICARE ACCESS STANDARDS.

SEC. 713. SYSTEM FOR TRACKING DATA AND MEASURING PERFORMANCE IN MEETING TRICARE ACCESS STANDARDS. (a) Requirement To Establish System.— (1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish a system— (A) to track data regarding access of covered beneficiaries under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, to primary health care under the TRICARE program; and (B) to measure performance in increasing such access against the primary care access standards established by the Secretary under the TRICARE program. (2) In implementing the system described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall collect data on the timeliness of appointments and precise waiting times for appointments in order to measure performance in meeting the primary care access standards established under the TRICARE program. (b) Deadline for Establishment.— The Secretary shall establish the system described in subsection (a) not later than April1, 1999.