IMPROVEMENTS IN ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRICARE PROGRAM.

SEC. 708. IMPROVEMENTS IN ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRICARE PROGRAM. (a) Flexibility In Contracting.—(1) During the one-year period following the date of the enactment of this Act, section 1072(7) of title 10, United States Code, shall be deemed to be amended by striking “the competitive selection of contractors to financially underwrite”. (2) The terms and conditions of any contract to provide health care services under the TRICARE program entered into during the period described in paragraph (1) shall not be considered to be modified or terminated as a result of the termination of such period. (b) Reduction of Contract Start-Up Time.—Section 1095c(b) of such title is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking “The” and inserting “Except as provided in paragraph (3), the”; and (B) by striking “contract.” and all that follows through “as soon as practicable after the award of the”; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(3) The Secretary may reduce the nine-month start-up period required under paragraph (1) if— “(A) the Secretary— “(i) determines that a shorter period is sufficient to ensure effective implementation of all contract requirements; and “(ii) submits notification to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Secretary’s intent to reduce the nine-month start-up period; and “(B) 60 days have elapsed since the date of such notification”.