Sec. 701. Annual mental health assessments for members of the Armed Forces
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Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1074m the following new section: Subject to subsection (d), not less frequently than once each calendar year, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a person-to-person mental health assessment for— each member of a regular component of the armed forces; and each member of the Selected Reserve of an armed force. The purpose of a mental health assessment provided pursuant to this section shall be to identify mental health conditions among members of the armed forces in order to determine which such members are in need of additional care, treatment, or other services for such health conditions.
The mental health assessments provided pursuant to this section shall— be conducted in accordance with the requirements of subsection (c)(1) of section 1074m of this title with respect to a mental health assessment provided pursuant to such section; and include a review of the health records of the member that are related to each previous health assessment or other relevant activities of the member while serving in the armed forces, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary is not required to provide a mental health assessment pursuant to this section to an individual in a calendar year in which the individual has received a mental health assessment pursuant to section 1074m of this title.
The Secretary may treat periodic health assessments and other person-to-person assessments that are provided to members of the armed forces, including examinations under section 1074f of this title, as meeting the requirements for mental health assessments required under this section if the Secretary determines that such assessments and person-to-person assessments meet the requirements for mental health assessments established by this section. Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the annual mental health assessments of members of the armed forces conducted pursuant to this section.
Each report required by paragraph
(1)shall include, with respect to assessments conducted pursuant to this section during the one-year period preceding the date of the submittal of such report, the following: A description of the tools and processes used to provide such assessments, including— whether such tools and processes are evidenced-based; and the process by which such tools and processes have been approved for use in providing mental health assessments. Such recommendations for improving the tools and processes used to conduct such assessments, including tools that may address the underreporting of mental health conditions, as the Secretary considers appropriate. Such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate for improving the monitoring and reporting of the number of members of the armed forces— who receive such assessments; who are referred for care based on such assessments; and who receive care based on such referrals. No personally identifiable information may be included in any report under paragraph (1). Any medical or other personal information obtained under this section shall be protected from disclosure or misuse in accordance with the laws on privacy applicable to such information. The Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the other administering Secretaries, prescribe regulations for the administration of this section. . The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 55 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1074m the following new item: 1074n. Annual mental health assessments for members of the armed forces. . Not later than 180 days after the date of the issuance of the regulations prescribed under section 1074n(g) of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph
(1)of this subsection, the Secretary of Defense shall implement such regulations. Section 1074m(e)(1) of such title is amended by inserting and section 1074n of this title after pursuant to this section .