Congressman Rich McCormick Introduces the Servicemember Site-Neutrality Act and Veterans Site-Neutrality Act

WASHINGTON - Last week, Congressman Rich McCormick (GA-07) introduced the Servicemember Site-Neutrality Act and the Veterans Site-Neutrality Act. 

“As a Marine pilot and Navy doctor, taking care of our servicemembers and veterans is one of my top priorities. Our servicemembers work each day to defend our freedom and I will always fight to support them. These two vital pieces of  legislation will go a long way in helping reduce costs and promote quality accessible heath care for our servicemembers. I am pleased to have the support of Americans for Prosperity and Concerned Veterans for America,”said Congressman McCormick

H.R. 873, The Servicemember Site-Neutrality Act will work to bring down reimbursement costs for TRICARE plans that cover medical services provided outside of Military Treatment Facilities (MTF). The bill directs the Secretary of Defense to adopt a policy of site-neutral payment and honest billing to save taxpayer dollars and free up critical resources for TRICARE beneficiaries. Under this bill, when a beneficiary of a relevant TRICARE plan receives a medical service in a convenient outpatient setting rather than an inpatient hospital, TRICARE will pay the provider at the lower outpatient rate rather than paying the higher inpatient rate.

H.R. 874, The Veterans Site-Neutrality Act will work to prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs from overpaying for medical services provided under the Community Care program. The bill directs the VA Secretary to adopt a policy of site-neutral payment and honest billing to save taxpayer dollars and free up critical resources for VA patients. Under this bill, when a veteran utilizing Community Care receives a medical service in a convenient outpatient setting rather than an inpatient hospital, the VA will pay the provider at the lower outpatient rate rather than paying the higher inpatient rate.

“Service members & Veterans, like their civilian neighbors, deserve access to quality and affordable health care options. Site neutral payment reform for both TRICARE and VA community care providers would promote greater health care competition, expanding the treatment options available to patients and lowering costs for taxpayers. In this way, H.R. 873 and H.R. 874 will enhance military & veterans’ health care to become a cutting-edge model the rest of America can emulate and expand access to quality affordable care,”said Nathan Anderson, Senior Advisor, Concerned Veterans for America.

“We applaud you, Congressman McCormick, on penning a pair of commonsense proposals that will save money for our nation's veterans and service members, and reduce their out-of-pocket medical costs, through greater competition and choice. That these bills will also free up scarce resources for the vital health care programs on which our veterans and service members rely is icing on the cake. Our thousands of activists across the country will be working to enact these commonsense proposals because they promote a Personal Option -- hassle-free health care you can afford,"said Dean Clancy, Senior Health Policy Fellow at Americans for Prosperity.

Media Contacts:
Julie Singleton: Julie.Singleton@mail.house.gov 
Regan Bruno: Regan.Bruno@mail.house.gov

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