Sec. 728. Independent evaluation of mental health care
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The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to evaluate the management of mental health care by the Defense Health Agency pursuant to section 1073c(a) of title 10, United States Code. The Secretary shall select a federally funded research and development center under subsection
(a)that has expertise and a record of independent, peer-reviewed publications with respect to— behavioral health research; and independent evaluations of mental health programs within the Department of Defense using multidisciplinary methods. The evaluation under subsection
(a)shall include the following: An assessment of the management of mental health care by the Defense Health Agency, including— how mental health care providers will be arranged within the command structure of the Agency; and how mental health care policy and processes will be managed within the Agency. An assessment of the ability of each Surgeon General of the military departments to maintain the readiness of the military health workforce to deliver mental health care services operationally in support of deployed forces. An assessment of the coordination of behavioral health research efforts across the research continuum. An assessment of the inclusion of evidence-based suicide prevention programs. A description of new processes to accelerate scientific research and delivery of breakthrough therapies for traumatic brain injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Plans to field medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration that provide clinicians with rapid, accurate assessments of traumatic brain injury. Not later than April 1, 2019, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the evaluation under subsection (a).