HR244-119

What This Bill Does

The Veterans' True Choice Act creates a TRICARE option for certain service-connected veterans. A covered veteran beneficiary is a veteran eligible for VA patient enrollment priority groups 1, 2, or 3 who is eligible for TRICARE only under the new authority, including Medicare-eligible counterparts under section 1086(d). Covered veterans may elect TRICARE Select during annual open enrollment, with cost sharing calculated under the same subsection regardless of original enlistment or appointment date. Dependents cannot enroll solely because the veteran enrolls. A covered veteran in TRICARE cannot also be enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system, and VA may not furnish medical care while the veteran is enrolled in TRICARE. VA and DOD must enter an MOU for VA reimbursement of DOD enrollment costs. The amendments take effect one year after enactment, regulations are due during the following year, enrollment is phased in during the next year through open season, VA uses its Center for Innovation for Care and Payment, and the Secretaries must submit quarterly implementation reports for two years plus annual enrollment reports afterward.

Who Benefits and How

Service-connected veterans in VA priority groups 1 through 3 benefit from an election to use TRICARE Select instead of VA care. Medicare-eligible covered veterans benefit from parallel access through section 1086(d) if they otherwise meet the new covered-veteran definition. Veterans seeking private-sector military health networks benefit from an annual open enrollment option. DOD TRICARE administrators benefit from VA reimbursement under the required memorandum of understanding.

Who Bears the Burden and How

VA health system administrators must stop concurrent VA enrollment and care for covered veterans while they are enrolled in TRICARE. VA budget officials must reimburse DOD for enrollment costs as jointly determined by the Secretaries. Covered veterans' dependents do not gain TRICARE eligibility solely from the veteran's enrollment. VA and DOD rulemaking staff must issue regulations, phase in enrollment, and submit quarterly and annual reports.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes covered service-connected veterans to elect TRICARE Select during annual open enrollment.
• Defines covered veteran beneficiaries by VA priority group 1, 2, or 3 eligibility and new TRICARE-only authority.
• Prohibits concurrent VA patient enrollment and VA-furnished care while the veteran is enrolled in TRICARE.
• Requires a VA-DOD memorandum of understanding for VA reimbursement of DOD enrollment costs.
• Requires phased implementation, regulations, quarterly implementation reports, and annual enrollment reports.