[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ELIMINATE THE TRICARE PRIME COPAY

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                     HON. GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR.

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2000

  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I hear from constituents on a daily 
basis who are concerned about the availability and affordability of 
military health care. On February 1, I introduced H.R. 3565 to 
eliminate the copayment requirement for Tricare Prime and to make 
military health care more affordable.
  Retirees pay an annual enrollment fee for coverage and are also 
subject to copayment requirements. Active duty families do not pay an 
enrollment fee, but are also subject to copayments. I am concerned that 
these copays can dramatically increase overall health care costs, 
particularly for retirees on a fixed income or for younger enlisted 
personnel. At $6 to $12 a visit, these copays quickly erode the real 
progress Congress made last year approving a long overdue increase in 
military pay. Unless we reduce out-of-pocket costs for military 
personnel, pay raises only help on the margin.
  The legislation also addresses a question of fairness. The downsizing 
of military treatment facilities often makes it difficult for Tricare 
Prime enrollees to get appointments which would not require a copay. 
But if enrollees urgently need an appointment, and elect to go to a 
civilian provider, they face copayments, creating an inequity and a 
potentially pernicious disincentive to receiving timely care. My bill 
has a further policy justification as the Department of Defense has 
indicated that the Tricare Prime program is the most cost-effective 
Tricare option. Eliminating the copay creates an incentive for 
additional enrollment in Tricare, which ultimately saves taxpayer 
dollars.
  The Department of Defense budget request for Fiscal Year 2001, which 
was released at the beginning of this week, generally supports my 
proposal. The DOD bill would eliminate copays for service members and 
dependents using civilian facilities, but doesn't address the equally 
large retired population. I believe we need to eliminate the copayment 
for all Tricare Prime enrollees and urge my colleagues to cosponsor 
H.R. 3565.

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