Sec. 769. Department of Defense internship programs relating to civilian behavioral health providers
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The Secretary of Defense shall establish paid pre-doctoral and post-doctoral internship programs for the purpose of training clinical psychologists to work as covered civilian behavioral health providers. Subject to subparagraph (B), as a condition of participating in an internship program under paragraph (1), the participant shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense pursuant to which the participant agrees to work on a full-time basis as a covered civilian behavioral health provider for a period of a duration that is at least equivalent to the period of participation in such internship program. An agreement entered into pursuant to subparagraph
(A)may include such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of Defense may determine necessary to protect the interests of the United States or otherwise appropriate for purposes of this section, including terms and conditions providing for limited exceptions from the employment obligation specified in such subparagraph. An individual who participates in an internship program under paragraph
(1)and does not complete the employment obligation required under the agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph
(2)shall repay to the Secretary of Defense a prorated portion of the cost of administering such program with respect to such individual and of any payment received by the individual under such program. The amount of such prorated portion shall be determined by the Secretary. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the implementation of this subsection. Such plan shall include an explanation of how the Secretary will adjust the workload and staffing of behavioral health providers in military medical treatment facilities to ensure sufficient capacity to supervise participants in the internship programs under paragraph (1). In this section: The term behavioral health includes psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work, counseling, and related fields. The term behavioral health provider includes the following: A licensed professional counselor. A licensed mental health counselor. A licensed clinical professional counselor. A licensed professional clinical counselor of mental health. A licensed clinical mental health counselor. A licensed mental health practitioner. The term covered civilian behavioral health provider means a civilian behavioral health provider whose employment by the Secretary of Defense involves the provision of behavioral health services at a military medical treatment facility. The term civilian behavioral health provider means a behavioral health provider who is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense. The term military medical treatment facility means a facility specified in section 1073d of such title.