Defense Health Care: TRICARE Surveys Indicate Nonenrolled Beneficiaries' Access to Care Has Generally Improved
Abstract
DOD provides health care, including mental health care, to eligible beneficiaries through TRICARE. Beneficiaries who use TRICARE Prime, a managed care option, must enroll to receive care. Prior to Jan. 1, 2018, beneficiaries did not need to enroll for TRICARE Standard, a fee-for-service option, or TRICARE Extra, a preferred provider organization option (referred to as nonenrolled beneficiaries). Although the TRICAREStandard and Extra options were terminated effective Jan. 1, 2018, the new TRICARE Select option has similar benefits for obtaining care fromnetwork and nonnetwork providers. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2008 directed DOD to conduct surveys ofnonenrolled beneficiaries and civilian providers about access to care under the TRICARE Standard and Extra options. It also directed GAO to review the surveys results. Additionally, the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2017 included a provision for GAO to review access to care under TRICARE Extra. This report addresses both provisions. GAO analyzed DODs surveys to determine (1) nonenrolled beneficiaries access to care, (2)nonenrolled beneficiaries ratings of TRICARE, (3) civilian providers awareness and acceptance of TRICARE, and (4) nonenrolled beneficiaries access by individual geographic area. GAO interviewed agency officials, analyzed the 2012-2015 surveys, and compared them to DODs 2008-2011 surveys and to surveys of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. In commenting on a draft of this report, DOD concurred with GAOs findings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 29, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1154280
Entities
People
- Debra A. Draper
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office