Skip to main content

Quarterly briefing on military treatment facilities

Division A · Title VII: Health Care Provisions · Subtitle C: Studies, Reports, and Other Matters

Plain-language summaryAI

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs must provide a detailed briefing every 90 days to congressional defense committees about each military medical treatment facility. The briefing will cover topics like patient access to care, staff readiness, patient enrollment and referrals, workforce composition, unfilled positions, shortages in resources, and plans to address any problems. The first briefing is required within 60 days after this law takes effect.

AI-generated from this section’s text — a quick orientation, not a substitute for the full text below. Not legal advice.

Section Text · Sec. 751.
Source →PrevNext

(a) In general

Section 1073c of title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 721, is further amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (j) the following new subsection:

(k) Quarterly briefing on military medical treatment facilities

(1)

Not less frequently than once every 90 days, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on military medical treatment facilities.

(2)

Each briefing under paragraph (1) shall include, for each military medical treatment facility and with respect to the 90-day period preceding the date of the provision of the briefing, the following information:

(A)

Of the members of the armed forces and covered beneficiaries who received health care services at the military medical treatment facility during such period, the percentage for whom access standards were met.

(B)

An assessment of the clinical readiness of the members of the armed forces staffing the military medical treatment facility.

(C)

An assessment of the unit readiness of members of the armed forces who receive health care services at the military medical treatment facility.

(D)

The number of members of the armed forces and covered beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime, disaggregated by category of enrollee, that received health care services at the military medical treatment facility during such period.

(E)

The number of members of the armed forces and covered beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime, disaggregated by category of enrollee, that received referrals under the TRICARE program from providers at the military medical treatment facility to specialty care providers outside the military medical treatment facility during such period.

(F)

The composition of the workforce at the military medical treatment facility, including the number of members of the armed forces, civilian employees of the Department of Defense, and contractors of the Department.

(G)

With respect to personnel staffing at the military medical treatment facility, the following:

(i)

The number of unfilled billets, disaggregated by type of profession, including clinicians, nurses, hospital administrators, and administrative personnel.

(ii)

The average amount of time for an unfilled billet to be filled, disaggregated in accordance with clause (i).

(H)

A description of any deficiencies or shortages with respect to the budget, medical supplies and equipment, or personnel necessary to meet metrics relating to access to healthcare services provided at the military medical treatment facility and applicable standards of care relating to such services.

(I)

A plan to remedy any such deficiencies.

(b) Deadline for initial briefing

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs shall submit the first briefing required under section 1073c(k) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).