115 STAT. 1164 PUBLIC LAW 107-107—DEC. 28, 2001 "(ii) any unpaid amounts of deductibles or copayments that are payable directly to the professional (or other provider) by the beneficiary.". 10 USC 1079 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The amendments made by this section °ote. shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 708. IMPROVEMENTS IN ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRICARE PRO- GRAM. 10 USC 1072 (a) FLEXIBILITY IN CONTRACTING. —(1) During the one-year oote. period following the date of the enactment of this Act, section 1072(7) of title 10, United States Code, shall be deemed to be amended by striking "the competitive selection of contractors to financially underwrite". (2) The terms and conditions of any contract to provide health care services under the TRICARE program entered into during the period described in paragraph (1) shall not be considered to be modified or terminated as a result of the termination of such period. (b) REDUCTION OF CONTRACT START-UP TIME. — Section 1095c(b) of such title is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking 'The" and inserting "Except as provided in paragraph (3), the"; and (B) by striking "contract." and all that follows through "as soon as practicable after the award of the"; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(3) The Secretary may reduce the nine-month start-up period required under paragraph (1) if— "(A) the Secretary— "(i) determines that a shorter period is sufficient to ensure effective implementation of all contract requirements; and "(ii) submits notification to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Secretary's intent to reduce the nine-month startup period; and "(B) 60 days have elapsed since the date of such notification.". Subtitle B—Senior Health Care SEC. 711. CLARIFICATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS REGARDING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE RETIREE HEALTH CARE FUND. (a) CLARIFICATION REGARDING COVERAGE.— Subsection (b) of section 1111 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: "(b) In this chapter: "(1) The term 'uniformed services retiree health care programs' means the provisions of this title or any other provision of law creating an entitlement to or eligibility for health care for a member or former member of a participating uniformed service who is entitled to retired or retainer pay, and an eligible dependent under such program.
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