Provisions of the U.S. Constitution authorize Congress to make laws by passing an act (e.g., National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009). When an act is passed by Congress and signed by the president, it becomes a federal law, which generally supersedes any state law (unless it specifies that a state law may apply). An act can be codified in a number of statutes. These statutes are classified and coded in the United States Code. Title 10 of the United States Code houses all statutes regarding the armed forces.
When an act relevant to TRICARE becomes law, the Department of Defense (DoD), through TMA, directs Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. (Humana Military) on how to administer that law. This direction comes through modifications to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The TRICARE Operations Manual, TRICARE Reimbursement Manual, and TRICARE Policy Manual are updated continually to reflect changes in the CFR. Depending on the complexity of the law and federal funding, it can take a year or more before direction from DoD is given through TMA and Humana Military can begin administration of the new policy.
For the most current information about TRICARE policy changes, refer to the
TRICARE manuals as well as the TRICARE Provider News publications that include articles featuring policy changes and how and when they should be implemented.
