Reducing Military Health Care Wait Times Act

This legislation aims to enhance transparency and accountability within the military healthcare system by mandating the publication of specific data regarding TRICARE appointments. It seeks to ensure that service members, veterans, and their families have access to critical information about the timeliness of healthcare services provided at military medical treatment facilities. The bill's findings emphasize that high-quality, timely healthcare is essential for uniformed service members and their families, justifying this increased transparency. The bill amends title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to include key performance metrics in the annual TRICARE Program Evaluation Report, made publicly available on a Department of Defense website. This mandated information includes the average number of days between booking and appointment dates at military medical treatment facilities, and the percentage of referrals to other healthcare facilities made within one business day of contact. These disclosures, previously voluntary, will now be a statutory requirement, providing valuable insights to Congress and the public for identifying opportunities to improve military health care programs and ensure more timely services for beneficiaries.