Sec. 726. Establishment of centers of excellence for specialty care in the military health system
615 words·~3 min read·
/bill/117/s/4543/rs/section-726·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 eligible 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 eligible beneficiaries from the Department; and improve health outcomes for eligible beneficiaries. Centers of excellence shall be established under subsection
(a)for the following areas of specialty care: Oncology. Burn injuries and wound care. Rehabilitation medicine. Psychological health and traumatic brain injury. Amputations and prosthetics. Neurosurgery. Orthopedic care. Substance abuse. Transplants. Cardiothoracic surgery. 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 eligible beneficiaries of specialty care. Eligible 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 if health care services at such a center are unavailable. 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 description of how each such center will improve— the military medical force readiness of the Department and the medical readiness of the Armed Forces; the quality of care received by eligible beneficiaries; and the health outcomes of eligible beneficiaries. A comprehensive plan to refer eligible 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 eligible 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 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 eligible beneficiaries at such centers. A plan to monitor access to care, beneficiary satisfaction, experience of care, and clinical outcomes to understand better the impact of such centers on the health care of eligible beneficiaries. The Secretary of Defense shall notify the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than 90 days prior to the establishment of a center of excellence under this section. In this section, the term eligible beneficiary means a beneficiary under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code.