Military CARE Act

This legislation mandates the Secretary of Defense to create a digital system within 18 months, enabling beneficiaries at military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) to electronically submit and monitor complaints concerning access to care. This system aims to enhance transparency and accountability by allowing individuals to track the status of their complaints, including any interim or final actions taken. Upon submission, complaints will be promptly forwarded to an appropriate Department of Defense patient advocate for resolution. Furthermore, the system will automatically aggregate these complaints quarterly for review by the Director of the Defense Health Agency, providing a high-level overview of recurring issues. The bill also requires the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to Congress, detailing the total number of complaints filed. This report must include specific data points for each MTF, such as the most common access issues, comparisons between primary and specialty care complaints, and administrative hurdles versus other access problems. It will also summarize the steps taken by facilities to reduce these access-to-care complaints, fostering continuous improvement in military healthcare services.