§1074i — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

The Defense Department must pay travel and transportation costs when a primary care doctor sends a covered beneficiary to a specialist more than 100 miles away. If an adult must go with the beneficiary, the department must also pay for a parent or guardian or another family member who is at least 21. For active‑duty service members and their dependents, the department can approve payments in special cases even when the trip wouldn’t normally qualify, and when the rule does apply the distance limit is 75 miles instead of 100. The department must run an outreach program for uniformed members with a combat‑related disability who are entitled to retired or retainer pay. The program must closely monitor their care and make sure they get the travel payments when they need follow‑on specialty care, services, or supplies. A specialty care provider includes dental specialists such as oral surgeons, orthodontists, prosthodontists, periodontists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, and other dental providers the Secretary of Defense approves. Combat‑related disability is defined elsewhere in the law.

Title 10, §1074i

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as provided by subsection (b), in any case in which a covered beneficiary is referred by a primary care physician to a specialty care provider who provides services more than 100 miles from the location in which the primary care provider provides services to the covered beneficiary, the Secretary of Defense shall provide travel and transportation allowances as specified in regulations prescribed under section 464 of title 37 for the covered beneficiary and, when accompaniment by an adult is necessary, for a parent or guardian of the covered beneficiary or another member of the covered beneficiary’s family who is at least 21 years of age.

(b)(1)The Secretary of Defense may provide travel and transportation allowances as specified in the regulations referred to in subsection (a) for travel of members of the armed forces on active duty and their dependents, and accompaniment, to a specialty care provider not otherwise authorized by subsection (a) under such exceptional circumstances as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of this section.

(2)With respect to members of the armed forces on active duty and their dependents, the Secretary shall administer subsection (a) by substituting “75 miles” for “100 miles”.

(c)The Secretary concerned shall ensure that an outreach program is implemented for each member of the uniformed services who incurred a combat-related disability and is entitled to retired or retainer pay, or equivalent pay, so that—

(1)the progress of the member is closely monitored; and

(2)the member receives the travel reimbursement authorized by subsection (a) whenever the member requires follow-on specialty care, services, or supplies.

(d)In this section:

(1)The term “specialty care provider” includes a dental specialist.

(2)The term “dental specialist” means an oral surgeon, orthodontist, prosthodontist, periodontist, endodontist, or pediatric dentist, and includes such other providers of dental care and services as determined appropriate by the Secretary of Defense.

(3)The term “combat-related disability” has the meaning given that term in section 1413a of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60, § 701(a)(1), substituted “Except as provided by subsection (b), in any case” for “In any case”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–60, § 701(a)(2), substituted “Special Rules for Certain Members and Dependents” for “Allowable Travel and Transportation Under Exceptional Circumstances” in heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), and added par. (2). 2013—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–66, § 621(d)(1), substituted “travel and transportation allowances as specified in

Regulations

prescribed under section 464 of title 37” for “reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–66, § 621(d)(2), substituted “Allowable Travel and Transportation Under Exceptional Circumstances.—The Secretary of Defense may provide travel and transportation allowances as specified in the

Regulations

referred to in subsection (a) for” for “Reimbursement for Travel Under Exceptional Circumstances.—The Secretary of Defense may provide reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses of”. 2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–84, § 634(b), inserted “of Defense” after “the Secretary”. Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 111–84, § 634(a), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c) and (d), respectively. 2008—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1632(a), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c). Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1632(b), added par. (3). 2003—Pub. L. 108–136 inserted “(a) In General.—” before “In any case” and added subsec. (b). 2001—Pub. L. 107–107 inserted before period at end “and, when accompaniment by an adult is necessary, for a parent or guardian of the covered beneficiary or another member of the covered beneficiary’s family who is at least 21 years of age”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2008 Amendment Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVI, § 1632(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 459, provided that: “Subsection (b) of section 1074i of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(2), shall apply with respect to travel described in subsection (a) of such section that occurs on or after January 1, 2008, for follow-on specialty care, services, or supplies.” Guidance on Authority To Provide Travel and Transportation Allowances for Specialty Care Under Exceptional Circumstances Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VII, § 706, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1944, provided that: “Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2024], the Secretary of Defense shall issue guidance with respect to the authority of the Secretary under section 1074i(b) of title 10, United States Code.”

§1074i Reimbursement for Certain Travel Expenses

Summary

Title 10, §1074i

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Regulations

Regulations

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata