Military CARE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6796

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-17: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Last Updated

2026-05-21T08:08:34Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 6796: Military Care, Access, Reporting, and Evaluation Act (Military CARE Act)

Purpose

The legislation aims to improve access to healthcare at military medical treatment facilities by creating a centralized digital system for filing and tracking complaints related to care access issues. It seeks to enhance transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in the Department of Defense's (DoD) healthcare system for eligible military beneficiaries.

Key Provisions

• Digital Complaint System: Within 18 months of enactment, the Secretary of Defense must establish an electronic platform allowing "covered beneficiaries" (individuals enrolled in the TRICARE health plan and eligible for care at military facilities) to:
• File complaints about access to care (e.g., delays or barriers in receiving services).
• View real-time status updates, including any actions taken to resolve the complaint.
• Transmission and Aggregation: Complaints are automatically sent to an appropriate DoD patient advocate (a representative who assists patients with issues). Complaints specific to a facility are aggregated and submitted quarterly to the Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), the organization overseeing military healthcare.
• Annual Reporting to Congress: Starting March 1 of the year after the system's launch, the Secretary must submit an annual report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. For each affected facility, the report includes:
• The most common types of access complaints.
• Comparisons of complaints related to specialty care versus primary care.
• Comparisons of complaints for pediatric (child) care versus non-pediatric care.
• Comparisons of administrative barriers (e.g., scheduling or paperwork issues) versus other access problems.
• A summary of actions taken at the facility to reduce future complaints.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new mandatory digital infrastructure for complaint handling, which did not previously exist in a standardized, electronic form across all military medical facilities. It builds on existing patient advocate roles but adds automated transmission, aggregation, and detailed congressional reporting requirements. Prior to this, complaint processes may have varied by facility without uniform tracking or annual summaries to lawmakers.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The DoD and DHA will need to invest in system development, maintenance, and staff training, potentially improving internal monitoring of healthcare access. Annual reports could lead to targeted resource allocation to high-complaint facilities, enhancing efficiency but increasing administrative workload.
• On Citizens: Military families and retirees eligible for TRICARE will benefit from easier, more transparent complaint filing, which may result in faster resolutions to access issues like appointment delays. This could improve overall satisfaction with military healthcare.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. military healthcare operations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Covered Beneficiaries: Active-duty service members, retirees, and their families enrolled in TRICARE who use military medical facilities.
• Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency: Responsible for implementing and managing the system, as well as addressing complaints.
• Congressional Committees: House and Senate Armed Services Committees, which receive reports to oversee military healthcare performance.
• Military Medical Facilities: Individual bases and hospitals that must respond to complaints and report improvements.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill strengthens patient rights within the military healthcare system by mandating timely complaint handling and data aggregation, potentially setting a precedent for digital tools in federal health services. It does not alter TRICARE eligibility but enforces accountability under existing DoD authorities.
• Constitutional: No significant issues; it aligns with Congress's oversight powers over the military (Article I, Section 8) and does not infringe on individual rights.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by representatives from both parties) highlights broad support for military family welfare. The reporting requirements could influence future defense budgets and healthcare reforms, promoting data-driven policy changes without partisan controversy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

Cosponsors (18)

Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-17: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
• 2025-12-17: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-17: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Military Care, Access, Reporting, and Evaluation Act — issued 2025-12-17 — PDF (4 pages)