Sec. 729. Establishment of centers of excellence for specialty care in the military health system
528 words·~2 min read·
/bill/114/s/2943/pap/section-729·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish regional centers of excellence for the provision of military specialty care to covered beneficiaries at existing major medical centers of the Department of Defense. The Secretary may establish satellite centers of excellence to provide specialty care for certain conditions, such as— post-traumatic stress; traumatic brain injury; and such other conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate.
Centers of excellence established under this subsection shall— ensure the military medical force readiness of the Department and the medical readiness of the Armed Forces; improve the quality of health care received by covered beneficiaries from the Department; and improve health outcomes for covered beneficiaries. Centers of excellence may be established under subsection
(a)for the following areas of specialty care: Cancer care. Care for burns, wounds, and other trauma. Emergency medicine. Rehabilitative care. Care for psychological health and traumatic brain injury. Amputation and prosthetic care. Health care for women. Neurosurgical care. Orthopedic care and sports medicine. Treatment for substance use disorder, which may include medication-assisted treatment. Infectious diseases. Such other areas of specialty care as the Secretary considers appropriate to ensure the military medical force readiness of the Department and the medical readiness of the Armed Forces. A major medical center of the Department may be established as a center of excellence for more than one area of specialty care. Centers of excellence established under subsection
(a)shall be the primary source within the military health system for the receipt by covered beneficiaries of specialty care. Covered beneficiaries seeking specialty care services through the military health system shall be referred to a center of excellence established under subsection
(a)or to an appropriate specialty care provider in the private sector. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that sets forth a plan for the Department to establish centers of excellence under this section. The report required by paragraph
(1)shall include the following: A list of the centers of excellence to be established under this section and the locations of such centers. A description of the specialty care services to be provided at each such center and a staffing plan for each such center. A comprehensive plan to refer covered beneficiaries for specialty care services at centers of excellence established under this section and centers of excellence in the private sector. A plan to assist covered beneficiaries with travel and lodging, if necessary, in connection with the receipt of specialty care services at centers of excellence established under this section or centers of excellence in the private sector. A plan to transfer the majority of specialty care providers of the Department to centers of excellence established under this section, in a number as determined by the Secretary to be required to provide specialty care services to covered beneficiaries at such centers. In this section, the term covered beneficiary has the meaning given that term in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.