Bill Overview
Title: Military Families Mental Health Services Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Defense to waive cost-sharing requirements for the first three outpatient mental health visits for beneficiaries of TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime each year.
Sponsors: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals in military families who are beneficiaries of TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime
Estimated Size: 9600000
- The TRICARE program is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System.
- TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime are health plans that provide benefits to active duty service members, military retirees, and their families.
- Mental health services are a crucial aspect of healthcare, especially relevant for military families who may be impacted by military service demands and stressors.
- The bill explicitly targets the waiver of cost-sharing for the first three outpatient mental health visits, suggesting a focus on increasing accessibility and initial engagement with mental health services.
Reasoning
- The policy is aimed at military families, specifically targeting those with TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime, which covers beneficiaries of the US Military Health System.
- The financial constraint imposed by co-payments can deter individuals from seeking needed mental health care; thus, waiving these can, in theory, improve initial engagement and access.
- Due to the varied nature of military families (including active duty, reserves, retirees, and their families), the impact of the policy will differ by circumstances and the need for mental health services.
- Given the constraint that the policy maxes out at $28,800,000 in the first year, with about 50 million beneficiaries, this implies potentially limited immediate impact per individual unless strategically utilized in high-need areas.
- Understanding the population distribution is key: many beneficiaries might not use the services at all, but for those who do (especially needing mental healthcare), the policy could significantly influence initial access.
Simulated Interviews
Active Duty Army Sergeant (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a great step forward. Mental health is a real concern for service members and their families. This will help in taking that first step to seek help.
- The biggest challenge is often the stigma, but removing financial barriers might encourage more of us to seek help in the first place.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Civilian Contractor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While we thankfully haven't needed mental health services yet, knowing there is easier access provides peace of mind.
- It's great for our community where mental health can be an issue due to frequent moves and the stress of deployments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Navy Retired (San Diego, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accessing mental health services is crucial for veterans like me. Waiving the fee for initial visits is a positive move.
- I'm concerned about long-term support but this is a good start to open that door.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran Affairs Counselor (Newport News, VA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a supportive policy change. It’s a small but impactful step towards normalizing mental health services.
- Based on my work, financial relief does encourage more people to seek help early on.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Navy Spouse (Oahu, HI)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that removes the barrier of cost for health care is good. We often put off appointments because of both cost and stigma.
- It opens doors for beginning therapy, which is so important for young families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Army Reservist (Clarksville, TN)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reserves don't always have direct access to on-base services, so this helps alleviate some financial pressure.
- Early mental health support can prevent more severe issues later on.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Army Officer (Fort Hood, TX)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's definitely positive, but hopefully not just a token gesture. Continued support is needed beyond the initial visits.
- This would be really beneficial, especially when switching back from field assignments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Navy (Pensacola, FL)
Age: 64 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen many servicemen and women's children benefit from mental health care. Removing costs really helps.
- For retirees, it's more about our children and grandchildren gaining access and not worrying about the initial costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Marine Corps Officer (Honolulu, HI)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s vital to remove hurdles that prevent accessing mental health resources.
- Not all Marines use these resources due to stigma, but waiving fees is a good incentive for some to start.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Air Force active duty (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy will help break the initial barrier to seeking help for many, reducing stigma in our ranks.
- Removing the cost-sharing for initial visits is just one piece, but a necessary one.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $28800000 (Low: $23000000, High: $35000000)
Year 2: $29700000 (Low: $23700000, High: $36200000)
Year 3: $30600000 (Low: $24500000, High: $37400000)
Year 5: $32600000 (Low: $26000000, High: $39800000)
Year 10: $37200000 (Low: $29700000, High: $45400000)
Year 100: $120000000 (Low: $96000000, High: $146000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill impacts military families who might face unique mental health challenges due to deployment cycles and combat exposure.
- Cost-sharing waivers could lead to more frequent utilization of mental health services, demanding a corresponding increase in available mental health professionals to meet demand.
- Waiving cost-sharing for initial visits may encourage early detection and treatment of mental health issues, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs.
- TRICARE's coverage parameters and reimbursement rates could influence the financial implications for both providers and the Department of Defense.