Defense health care: opportunities to improve future TRICARE managed care support contract transitions : report to Congressional committees
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Contributor(s):
- United States. Government Accountability Office. issuing body. United States. Congress. issuing body.
- Publication:
- Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, November 2019
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Contract Services -- legislation & jurisprudence Government Regulation Managed Care Programs -- legislation & jurisprudence United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Why GAO did this study. DOD contracts with private sector companies—referred to as managed care support contractors—to deliver health care services to its TRICARE program beneficiaries through networks of civilian providers. In July 2016, DOD awarded its fourth generation of TRICARE contracts, referred to as T2017, for management of civilian providers in its two regions (East and West). For new TRICARE contracts, DOD provides a transition period— usually 9 to 12 months—for the incoming and outgoing contractors. During this time, the incoming contractors must take specific steps to prepare for health care delivery. The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 included a provision for GAO to review the T-2017 transition. This report examines (1) how the requirement to implement TRICARE Select affected the transition, (2) challenges DOD experienced executing the T-2017 transition process, and (3) how DOD addressed problems after the start of health care delivery. GAO reviewed and analyzed DOD guidance, contract requirements, and other relevant documentation, and interviewed DOD officials, TRICARE contractors, and other stakeholders. What GAO recommends. GAO is making three recommendations to improve future contract transitions, including that DOD improve the specificity of its transition guidance and have subject matter experts review oversight requirements. DOD concurred with GAO’s recommendations and identified steps the department is taking to address them.
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (27 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918284256906676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918284256906676