Walter B. Jones: “I rise this afternoon along with my colleague from the State of Georgia, Mr. Norwood, to talk about our military health…”

“I rise this afternoon along with my colleague from the State of Georgia, Mr. Norwood, to talk about our military health care system, specifically to discuss TriCare and its implementation. I believe there are a number of important issues this body needs to address. The long-established ways of providing medical care for soldiers, military retirees, and family members are changing. As the bond with Korea's soldiers for lifetime medical care is being redefined, the historic promise of free lifetime medical care is coming face to face with the fiscal realities of the post-cold war. The most significant change in military health care is the introduction of TriCare, the Defense Department's regional managed care program. It is my understanding that TriCare is intended to provide high-quality, low-cost, successful care to dependent and retiree beneficiaries by partnering with civilian sector health care providers. The change has begun in selected areas of the United States and is scheduled to be fully operational in the continental United States and Hawaii by 1997. As we closely watch TriCare evolve, it seems that several outcomes appear apparent. Throughout the transition, Congress will examine TriCare closely, and alternatives to TriCare will be considered if problems of access and cost escalate and TriCare is unable to provide a uniform benefit.”