[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 42 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 H. R. 42

To amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in 
         fees for military health care before fiscal year 2016.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 3, 2013

Mrs. Bachmann introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in 
         fees for military health care before fiscal year 2016.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Military Health Care Affordability 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) America's warriors offer a life of supreme devotion in 
        service to their Nation, and through generations of war-
        fighting, their dedication has proven honorable, their 
        sacrifice immeasurable, and their record of excellence 
        undeniable.
            (2) No American goes to war alone--the burden of every 
        Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and Marine is shared, in part, by all 
        of his or her loved ones.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) so long as the United States sends men and women into 
        battle, the United States will be faithful to care for them 
        upon their return;
            (2) as the veteran answered the call of duty, so too, is 
        the United States duty-bound to answer the call of the veteran;
            (3) the Department of Defense and the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs have the tools and ingenuity to provide 
        continued excellent health care without increasing TRICARE 
        payments from the veteran before fiscal year 2014; and
            (4) in the words of President Abraham Lincoln, ``let us 
        strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's 
        wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for 
        his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and 
        cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all 
        nations.''.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON INCREASES OF CERTAIN HEALTH COSTS AND 
              RESTRICTIONS ON HEALTH BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS FOR MEMBERS 
              AND RETIREES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES AND THEIR 
              DEPENDENTS.

    (a) Prohibition on Increase in Charges Under Contracts for Medical 
Care.--Section 1097(e) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``September 30, 2011'' 
        and inserting ``September 30, 2015''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``October 1, 2012'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2015''.
    (b) Prohibition on Increase in Amount of Cost Sharing Requirement 
Under Pharmacy Benefits Program.--Section 1074g(a)(6)(C)(i) of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``Beginning October 1, 
2013,'' and inserting the following: ``The amount of any increase in a 
cost-sharing amount specified in subparagraph (A) in a year may not be 
increased during the period beginning on October 1, 2012, and ending on 
September 30, 2015. Beginning October 1, 2015,''.
    (c) Prohibition on Increase in Charges for Inpatient Care.--Section 
1086(b)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``September 30, 2011'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
    (d) Prohibition on Increase in Premiums Under TRICARE Coverage for 
Certain Members in the Selected Reserve.--Section 1076d(d)(3) of title 
10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``The monthly'' and 
        inserting ``Except as provided by subparagraph (C), the 
        monthly''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(C) During the period beginning on October 1, 2013, and ending on 
September 30, 2015, the monthly amount of the premium for TRICARE 
Standard coverage under this section may not be increased to be more 
than the amount in effect for the month of September 2013.''.
    (e) Prohibition on Increase in Premiums Under TRICARE Coverage for 
Certain Members of the Retired Reserve.--Section 1076e(d) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
    ``(6) During the period beginning on October 1, 2013, and ending on 
September 30, 2015, the monthly amount of the premium for TRICARE 
Standard coverage under this section may not be increased to be more 
than the amount in effect for the month of September 2013.''.
    (f) Prohibition on Increase in Premiums Under TRICARE Coverage for 
Certain Dependents.--Section 1110b(c) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(5) During the period beginning on October 1, 2013, and ending on 
September 30, 2015, the monthly amount of the premium for coverage 
under the TRICARE program provided pursuant to this section may not be 
increased to be more than the amount in effect for the month of 
September 2013.''.
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