Sec. 712. Organizational framework of the military healthcare system to support the medical requirements of the combatant commands
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The Secretary of Defense shall, acting through the Director of the Defense Health Agency, implement an organizational framework for the military healthcare system that most effectively implements chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, in a manner that maximizes interoperability and fully integrates medical capabilities of the Armed Forces in order to enhance joint military medical operations in support of requirements of the combatant commands. The organizational framework, as implemented, shall comply with all requirements of section 1073c of title 10, United States Code, except for the implementation date specified in subsection
(a)of such section. The organizational framework required by subsection
(a)shall meet the requirements as follows: There shall be not more than two defense health regions in the continental United States. Each region under paragraph
(1)shall be led by a commander or director who is a member of the Armed Forces serving in a grade not higher than major general or rear admiral, and who— shall be selected by the Director of the Defense Health Agency from among members of the Armed Forces recommended by the Secretaries of the military departments for service in such position; and shall be under the authority, direction, and control of the Director while serving in such position. The organizational framework required by subsection
(a)shall provide for the establishment of not more than two defense health regions outside the continental United States in order— to enhance joint military medical operations in support of the requirements of the combatant commands in such region or regions, with a specific focus on current and future contingency and operational plans; to ensure the provision of high-quality healthcare services to beneficiaries; and to improve the interoperability of healthcare delivery systems in the defense health regions (whether under this subsection, subsection (b), or both). The Director of the Defense Health Agency shall— provide in each defense health region under this section healthcare delivery venues for uniformed medical and dental personnel to obtain operational clinical competencies; and coordinate with the military departments to ensure that staffing at military medical treatment facilities in each region supports readiness requirements for members of the Armed Forces and military medical personnel. The Director shall, consistent with section 193 of title 10, United States Code, coordinate with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, through the Joint Staff Surgeon, to conduct oversight and direct resources to support requirements related to readiness and operational medicine support that are validated by the Joint Staff. Based on operational medical force readiness requirements of the combatant commands validated by the Joint Staff, the Director shall— validate supply and demand requirements for medical and dental services at each military medical treatment facility; in coordination with the Surgeons General of the Armed Forces, provide currency workload for uniformed medical and dental personnel at each such facility to maintain skills proficiency; and if workload is insufficient to meet requirements, identify alternative training and clinical practice sites for uniformed medical and dental personnel, and establish military-civilian training partnerships, to provide such workload. The Surgeons General of the Armed Forces shall have the duties as follows: To assign uniformed medical and dental personnel of the military department concerned to military medical treatment facilities for training activities specific to such military department and for operational and training missions, during which assignment such personnel shall be under the operational control of the commander or director of the military medical treatment facility concerned, subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Director of the Defense Health Agency. To ensure the readiness for operational deployment of medical and dental personnel and deployable medical or dental teams or units of the Armed Force or Armed Forces concerned. To provide logistical support for operational deployment of medical and dental personnel and deployable medical or dental teams or units of the Armed Force or Armed Forces concerned. To oversee mobilization and demobilization in connection with the operational deployment of medical and dental personnel of the Armed Force or Armed Forces concerned. To carry out operational medical and dental force development for the military department concerned. In coordination with the Secretary concerned, to ensure that the operational medical force readiness organizations of the Armed Forces support the medical and dental readiness responsibilities of the Director. To develop operational medical capabilities required to support the warfighter, and to develop policy relating to such capabilities. To provide health professionals to serve in leadership positions across the military healthcare system. The Surgeon General of each Armed Force shall, on behalf of the Secretary concerned, ensure that the uniformed medical and dental personnel serving in such Armed Force receive training and clinical practice opportunities necessary to ensure that such personnel are capable of meeting the operational medical force requirements of the combatant commands applicable to such personnel. Such training and practice opportunities shall be provided through programs and activities of the Defense Health Agency and by such other mechanisms as the Secretary of Defense shall designate for purposes of this paragraph. The duties of a Surgeon General of the Armed Forces under this subsection are in addition to the duties of such Surgeon General under section 3036, 5137, or 8036 of title 10, United States Code, as applicable. Not later than 270 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 the following: A description of the organizational structure of the office of each Surgeon General of the Armed Forces, and of any subordinate organizations of the Armed Forces that will support the functions and responsibilities of a Surgeon General of the Armed Forces. The manning documents for staffing in support of the organizational structures described pursuant to paragraph (1), including manning levels before and after such organizational structures are implemented. Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate in connection with the implementation of such organizational structures and, in particular, to avoid duplication of functions and tasks between the organizations in such organizational structures and the Defense Health Agency.