Sec. 331. Expansion of research and education on and delivery of complementary and alternative medicine to veterans
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Not later than six months after the effective date specified in subsection (f), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan to expand materially and substantially the scope of research and education on, and delivery and integration of, complementary and alternative medicine services into the health care services provided to veterans. The plan required by subsection
(a)shall provide for the following: Research on the following: The comparative effectiveness of various complementary and alternative medicine therapies. Approaches to integrating complementary and alternative medicine services into other health care services provided by the Department. Education and training for health care professionals of the Department on the following: Complementary and alternative medicine services selected by the Secretary for purposes of the plan. Appropriate uses of such services. Integration of such services into the delivery of health care to veterans. Research, education, and clinical activities on complementary and alternative medicine at centers of innovation at Department medical centers. Identification or development of metrics and outcome measures to evaluate the provision and integration of complementary and alternative medicine services into the delivery of health care to veterans. Integration and delivery of complementary and alternative medicine services with other health care services provided by the Department. In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the following: The Director of the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. The Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Institutions of higher education, private research institutes, and individual researchers with extensive experience in complementary and alternative medicine and the integration of complementary and alternative medicine practices into the delivery of health care. Nationally recognized providers of complementary and alternative medicine. Such other officials, entities, and individuals with expertise on complementary and alternative medicine as the Secretary considers appropriate. The Secretary shall undertake consultation under paragraph
(1)in carrying out subsection
(a)with respect to the following: To develop the plan. To identify specific complementary and alternative medicine practices that, on the basis of research findings or promising clinical interventions, are appropriate to include as services to veterans. To identify barriers to the effective provision and integration of complementary and alternative medicine services into the delivery of health care to veterans, and to identify mechanisms for overcoming such barriers. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. In this section, the term complementary and alternative medicine shall have the meaning given that term in regulations the Secretary shall prescribe for purposes of this section, which shall, to the degree practicable, be consistent with the meaning given such term by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.