IMPROVEMENT OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE UNDER THE TRICARE PROGRAM.

SEC. 712. IMPROVEMENT OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE UNDER THE TRICARE PROGRAM. (a) Access.—The Secretary of Defense shall, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize the authorization and certification requirements imposed on covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program as a condition of access to benefits under that program. (b) Report on Initiatives to Improve Access.—Not later than March 31, 2000, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on specific actions taken to— (1) reduce the requirements for preauthorization for care under the TRICARE program; (2) reduce the requirements for beneficiaries to obtain preventive services, such as obstetric or gynecologic examinations, mammograms for females over 35 years of age, and urological examinations for males over the age of 60 without preauthorization; and (3) reduce the requirements for statements of nonavailability of services. (c) Requirement to Provide Statement.—Section 1080(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “Notwithstanding any other provision 113 STAT. 688of law, with respect to obstetrics and gynecological care for beneficiaries not enrolled in a managed care plan offered pursuant to any contract or agreement under this chapter, a nonavailability-of-health-care statement shall be required for receipt of health care services related to outpatient prenatal, outpatient or inpatient delivery, and outpatient post-partum care subsequent to the visit which confirms the pregnancy”.