TRICARE PAR Study Act

To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on reimbursement rates for mental health care providers under the TRICARE program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the TRICARE Payment And Reimbursement Study Act TRICARE PAR Study Act 2. Study on reimbursement rates for mental health care providers under TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select in the East and West regions of the TRICARE program (a) Study The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study assessing the impact of using established rates to reimburse covered mental health care providers on the availability of such providers. (b) Elements The study under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An evaluation of— (A) whether there are enough covered mental health care providers to adequately serve the beneficiaries under TRICARE Prime and the beneficiaries under TRICARE Select of each locality in the East and West regions of the TRICARE program, including in rural communities in such regions; and (B) whether the requirements under sections 1079(h)(1) and 1097b of title 10, United States Code, to use established rates to reimburse covered mental health care providers limits the number of covered health care providers serving each locality in the East and West regions of the TRICARE program, including in rural communities in such regions. (2) An assessment of the impact of using established rates to reimburse covered mental health care providers on— (A) the ability of beneficiaries under TRICARE Prime and beneficiaries under TRICARE Select to access appropriate and timely mental health care in accordance with section 199.17 of title 32, Code of Federal Regulations; and (B) the availability of services provided by mental health care providers that are needed by members of the Armed Forces to be medically ready. (3) Information about instances in which the Secretary provided or applied exceptions to established rates pursuant to section 1079(h)(2) of title 10, United States Code, to increase the number of covered mental health care providers. (4) A description of how the Secretary solicits and collects feedback from covered mental health care providers on established rates. (5) A list of actions the Secretary has taken to address such feedback. (6) Any legislative, regulatory, or policy recommendations that are necessary to improve the overall medical readiness of the Armed Forces. (c) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report on the results of the study required under subsection (a). (d) Briefing Not later than 60 days after the date on which the report required under subsection (c) is submitted to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the Secretary shall provide a briefing to such committees on the results of the study required under subsection (a). (e) Comptroller general review and report Not later than 180 days after the date on which the report under subsection (c) is submitted to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1) review the report required under subsection (c); and (2) submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate an assessment of— (A) whether the results of the study required under subsection (a) are supported by the data and information examined in the study required under subsection (a); and (B) the feasibility of any recommendations identified by the Secretary under subsection (b)(6). (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The term established rate (2) The term covered mental health care provider (3) The term mental health care provider (4) The term locality means a geographic location— (A) designated as a Prime Service Area under section 199.17(b)(1) of title 32, Code of Federal Regulations; and (B) in which the Secretary entered into a contract under chapter 55 (5) The terms TRICARE Prime TRICARE Select

Summary: TRICARE Payment And Reimbursement Study Act or the TRICARE PAR Study Act This bill requires the Department of Defense to study the impact of using established rates under TRICARE to reimburse mental health providers. The Government Accountability Office must assess the feasibility of recommendations identified in the report.