H.R. 2632: TRICARE Equality Act

This bill, titled the TRICARE Equality Act, aims to enhance the administration of the TRICARE healthcare program specifically for individuals in Puerto Rico. The key provisions of the bill include:

Geographical Designation

The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to designate geographical areas in Puerto Rico for the TRICARE program similarly to how areas are designated in the mainland United States. This change is intended to ensure that residents in Puerto Rico receive access to TRICARE Prime, which is the managed care option of the TRICARE program.

Travel and Transportation Allowances

The bill expands travel benefits for TRICARE beneficiaries in Puerto Rico. It mandates that eligible individuals who reside in Puerto Rico, and who would qualify for travel and transportation allowances if they were located elsewhere, should also be granted these allowances. This change aims to relieve travel costs for patients who need to receive care outside of Puerto Rico.

Health Information Exchange

Additionally, the bill proposes that the Director of the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization Office work collaboratively with the Director of the Department of Health of Puerto Rico. This collaboration is focused on the sharing of health information through a Joint Health Information Exchange or a similar initiative, which is intended to improve the coordination of healthcare services.

Implementation Report

Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of both the House of Representatives and the Senate within 180 days of the bill's enactment. This report is to detail the progress made in implementing the new requirements outlined in the bill.

Relevant Companies

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