PUBLIC LAW 106-398—APPENDIX 114 STAT. 1654A-189 SEC. 728. PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS FOR CERTAIN REFERRALS AND NONAVAILABILITY-OF-HEALTH -CARE STATEMENTS. (a) PROHIBITION REGARDING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR REFER- RALS. —(1) Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1095e the following new section: "§1095f. TRICARE program: referrals for specialty health care "The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that no contract for managed care support under the TRICARE program includes any requirement that a managed care support contractor require a primary care or specialty care provider to obtain prior authorization before referring a patient to a specialty care provider that is part of the network of health care providers or institutions of the contractor.". (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1095e the following new item: "1095f. TRICARE program: referrals for specialty health care.". (b) REPORT.— Not later than February 1, 2001, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the financial and management implications of eliminating the requirement to obtain nonavailability-of-health-care statements under section 1080 of title 10, United States Code. (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— Section 1095f of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to a TRICARE managed care support contract entered into by the Department of Defense after the date of the enactment of this Act. Subtitle D—Demonstration Projects SEC. 731. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR EXPANDED ACCESS TO MEN- TAL HEALTH COUNSELORS. (a) REQUIREMENT TO CONDUCT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. — The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a demonstration project under which licensed and certified professional mental health counselors who meet eligibility requirements for participation as providers under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (hereafter in this section referred to as "CHAMPUS") or the TRICARE program may provide services to covered beneficiaries under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, without referral by physicians or adherence to supervision requirements. (b) DURATION AND LOCATION OF PROJECT. — The Secretary shall conduct the demonstration project required by subsection (a)— (1) during the 2-year period beginning October 1, 2001; and (2) in one established TRICARE region. (c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe regulations regarding participation in the demonstration project required by subsection (a). (d) PLAN FOR PROJECT.— Not later than March 31, 2001, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan to carry out the demonstration project. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the following:
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