Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would work to reduce reimbursement costs for TRICARE and Community Care plans that cover medical services provided outside of Military Treatment Facilities.
The Servicemember Site-Neutrality Act would direct the secretary of defense to adopt a policy of site-neutral payment and honest billing. When a beneficiary of a relevant TRICARE plan receives medical service in an outpatient setting rather than inpatient hospital, TRICARE will pay the provider at the lower outpatient rate.
The Veterans Site-Neutrality Act would prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs from overpaying for medical services provided under the Community Care program. The bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs secretary to adopt a policy of site-neutral payment and honest billing. When a veteran utilizing Community Care receives medical service in an outpatient setting rather than inpatient hospital, the VA will pay the provider at the lower outpatient rate.
“Our service members work each day to defend our freedom and I will always fight to support them,” U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), who introduced the bill, said. “These two vital pieces of legislation will go a long way in helping reduce costs and promote quality accessible heath care for our service members.”