The TRICARE for Kids program provides adequate care for the children of men and women who are enlisted in the armed services, according to a recent report by the Defense Health Agency.

Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) introduced TRICARE for Kids in March 2012 in an effort to shape policies and practices of TRICARE to account for the unique needs of children. The bill was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in January 2013.

“The report is a step in the right direction; and I appreciate the acknowledgement in the report of specific areas of needed improvement, including gaps in coverage and services, challenges with utilizing meaningful data and the benefits of increased collaboration with the pediatric civilian sector,” Stivers said. “Unfortunately, the report failed to include any specific next steps and action items to improve the care and experiences for our military families, specifically for one of our most valuable resources — our military children.”

The legislation established a working group to review TRICARE healthcare policies and practices to make recommendations that account for children’s care and pediatric care settings.

“Now is the time to act for our military children,” Stivers said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the senior leadership at the Department of Defense to identify which items in the report can be accomplished in the short term, and which actions might need further legislative action.”