Study on feasibility of establishing digital system relating to access to care at military medical treatment facilities

(a) Study Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a digital system under which— (1) a covered individual who receives health care at a military medical treatment facility may electronically— (A) file a complaint relating to access to care at such military medical treatment facility; and (B) view the status of such complaint at any time, including the status of any interim or final action taken to address the complaint; (2) any complaint filed under paragraph (1)(A) is promptly transmitted to an appropriate patient advocate of the Department of Defense; and (3) complaints filed under paragraph (1)(A) with respect to a military medical treatment facility may be automatically aggregated and submitted to the Director of the Defense Health Agency on a quarterly basis. (b) Report (1) Requirement Not later than December 1, 2027, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the feasibility of establishing the digital system described in subsection (a). (2) Elements The report under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) An identification of the most common complaints relating to access to care filed by covered individuals. (B) A comparison of the number of complaints regarding access to specialty care versus access to primary care. (C) A comparison of the number of complaints regarding access to pediatric care versus nonpediatric care. (D) A comparison of the number of complaints regarding administrative hurdles to access to care versus other issues relating to access to care. (E) A summary of steps taken to reduce complaints relating to access to care. (c) Covered individual defined In this section, the term covered individual means an individual enrolled in a health care plan under the TRICARE program and eligible to receive care at a military medical treatment facility.

(a) Study Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a digital system under which— (1) a covered individual who receives health care at a military medical treatment facility may electronically— (A) file a complaint relating to access to care at such military medical treatment facility; and (B) view the status of such complaint at any time, including the status of any interim or final action taken to address the complaint; (2) any complaint filed under paragraph (1)(A) is promptly transmitted to an appropriate patient advocate of the Department of Defense; and (3) complaints filed under paragraph (1)(A) with respect to a military medical treatment facility may be automatically aggregated and submitted to the Director of the Defense Health Agency on a quarterly basis. (b) Report (1) Requirement Not later than December 1, 2027, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the feasibility of establishing the digital system described in subsection (a). (2) Elements The report under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) An identification of the most common complaints relating to access to care filed by covered individuals. (B) A comparison of the number of complaints regarding access to specialty care versus access to primary care. (C) A comparison of the number of complaints regarding access to pediatric care versus nonpediatric care. (D) A comparison of the number of complaints regarding administrative hurdles to access to care versus other issues relating to access to care. (E) A summary of steps taken to reduce complaints relating to access to care. (c) Covered individual defined In this section, the term covered individual means an individual enrolled in a health care plan under the TRICARE program and eligible to receive care at a military medical treatment facility.