Sec. 751. Pilot program on expansion of use of physician assistants to provide mental health care to members of the Armed Forces
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Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall commence the conduct of a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of expanding the use by the Department of Defense of physician assistants specializing in psychiatric medicine at medical facilities of the Department of Defense in order to meet the increasing demand for mental health care providers at such facilities through the use of a psychiatry fellowship program for physician assistants.
An individual eligible for participation in the pilot program is an individual who— has successfully graduated with a masters degree in physician assistant studies from an accredited physician assistant program; is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants; has a valid license, certification, and registration necessary to practice medicine; does not have any pending challenge, investigation, revocation, restriction, disciplinary action, suspension, reprimand, probation, denial, or withdrawal with respect to any license, certification, or registration described in paragraph (3); is a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces; and meets the requirements necessary to be deployed as such an officer throughout the world.
The Secretary shall select not fewer than five individuals described in subsection
(b)to participate in the pilot program for each round of the psychiatric fellowship program conducted under subsection (d). In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall establish a psychiatric fellowship program for physician assistants. The psychiatric fellowship program under paragraph
(1)shall consist of two rounds, each with a maximum duration of two years. In carrying out the psychiatric fellowship program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use resources available under existing graduate medical education programs of the Department of Defense to the greatest extent possible. Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary completes the first round of the psychiatric fellowship program under subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the pilot program. The report required by subparagraph
(A)shall include the following: A description of the implementation of the pilot program, including a detailed description of the education and training provided under the pilot program. An assessment of potential cost savings, if any, to the Federal Government resulting from the pilot program. A description of improvements, if any, to the access of members of the Armed Forces to mental health care resulting from the pilot program. A description of recommendations, if any, of the Secretary of alternative methods to improve the access of members of the Armed Forces to mental health care other than through the pilot program. A recommendation as to the feasibility and advisability of extending or expanding the pilot program. Not later than 90 days after the date on which the pilot program terminates under subsection (f), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives an update to the report submitted under paragraph (1). The authority of the Secretary to carry out the pilot program shall terminate upon the completion of the second round of the psychiatric fellowship program under subsection (d).