Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) have introduced the Military Care Access, Reporting, and Evaluation (Military CARE) Act. This bipartisan bill is designed to improve health care access for military families by modernizing how TRICARE beneficiaries report and resolve challenges at military treatment facilities.
The legislation proposes a secure digital platform for TRICARE beneficiaries to submit and monitor their care issues. It requires real-time notifications to patient advocates, quarterly analysis of complaint trends by the Defense Health Agency, and annual reports to Congress that detail challenges and corrective actions.
Rep. Bacon stated, “Our military families deserve timely care and a clear path to raise concerns when the system falls short. The Military CARE Act gives service members and their families a direct line to report care access issues and track their resolution, while ensuring Congress has the data needed to identify and fix systemic problems across the military health system. I’m pleased to co-lead this vital effort with Rep. Horsford to strengthen access to care for the families who sacrifice so much in service to our nation.”
Rep. Horsford added, “Military families serve our nation and sacrifice so much for it, and they deserve a health care system that serves them just as well. Too many families struggle to get timely appointments or clear information, and they’re left without a reliable way to raise concerns or track whether problems are fixed. This bipartisan bill gives military families a real voice, gives providers the tools to respond quickly, and gives Congress the oversight needed to ensure servicemembers and their loved ones are never left behind.When we support our families, we strengthen the entire force.”
Rep. Houlahan said, “Access to timely, reliable health care is both a personal issue and a readiness issue. Too often, military families hit administrative roadblocks or long delays with no clear way to raise concerns or track whether problems are being fixed. The Military CARE Act brings transparency and accountability to the system by giving TRICARE beneficiaries a straightforward way to report access issues and ensures those concerns reach patient advocates and senior leaders. This bipartisan, commonsense bill helps Congress identify systemic gaps and ensures our military health system works for the people it’s meant to serve.”
Rep. Goodlander commented: “Today, America’s servicemembers, veterans, and military families are forced to fight endless red tape and navigate a confusing and deeply frustrating system to get the healthcare they have earned. That’s not right. Our commonsense bipartisan bill will cut senseless red tape, restore basic accountability, and return the power back where it belongs: with patients. This bill is about ensuring accountability, strengthening readiness, and keeping the sacred promise we make to those who serve our country.”
Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly (Ret.), President & CEO of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), stated: “Without reliable data and transparency, access-to-care problems in the military health system remain unseen and unresolved.The Military CARE Act ensures beneficiary experiences are captured, tracked,and reported – giving leadersand Congress the visibility neededto identify systemic issuesand drive meaningful,lasting improvementsfor militaryfamilies.MOAAis gratefulforthe bipartisan leadershipof Reps.Horsford,Kiggans,Bacon,andHoulahanin advancingthis critical reformand MOAA priority.”
The original cosponsors of this legislation include Reps. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), James Moylan (GU-AL). The bill also has endorsements from several organizations such as Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), National Military Family Association (NMFA), Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) among others.
Don Bacon has served in U.S Congress representing Nebraska’s 2nd District since 2017 after replacing Brad Ashford (source). He was born in Momence Illinois in 1963; currently he lives in Papillion (source). Bacon graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1984 with a BA degree before later attending University of Phoenix.
