Note: The following message was sent as a List Server message on 25 March 2010: 

The passage by the House of Representatives and signing by President Obama of the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (Act) creates many new exciting possibilities for the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps). As this Act continues to move through the legislative process to Senate reconciliation, the Corps is evaluating the provisions and will develop a plan for its implementation. Presuming that Section 5210 of the Act remains intact through reconciliation, the Corps will be required to promulgate new regulations and policies to accommodate the new language.

The most immediate issues that seem to be at the fore-front of officers’ interest include the conversion of Reserve Corps officers to the Regular Corps and the provision that extends medical coverage to children up to age 26.

Based on our current interpretation, to convert all Reserve Corps officers will require, as noted in (a)(3) of Section 5210 of the Act, the Corps to prepare a nomination package to be submitted through the Department to the President for appointment, and then to the Senate for Confirmation. There are also some policy issues that will need to be addressed to proceed with this provision.

Currently, it is our understanding that TRICARE is not affected by the health care reform provision to cover dependent children in health plans up to age 26. By law, TRICARE covers eligible dependent children up to the age of 21, or up to age 23 if enrolled full time at an accredited institution of higher education and reliant on the sponsor for more than 50 percent of their financial support. Coverage ends on the child's 23rd birthday or at the end of that school year, whichever comes first.

The Corps will post updates as the issues evolve and specific items move forward. In the meantime, we ask that individuals refrain from calling the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations (OCCO), the Office of Commissioned Corps Force Management (OCCFM), or the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) for individual updates as this prevents staff from moving the implementation of these provisions forward.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support of the Corps' mission.