Sec. 752. Report on behavioral health workforce and plan to address shortfalls in providers
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Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct an analysis of the behavioral health workforce under the direct care component of the military health system and submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing the results of such analysis. The report required under paragraph
(1)shall include, with respect to the workforce specified in such paragraph, the following: The number of positions authorized for military behavioral health providers within such workforce, and the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph (3). The number of positions authorized for civilian behavioral health providers within such workforce, and the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph (3). For each military department, the ratio of military behavioral health providers assigned to military medical treatment facilities compared to civilian behavioral health providers so assigned, disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph (3). For each military department, the number of military behavioral health providers authorized to be embedded within an operational unit, and the number of such positions filled, disaggregated by the professions described in paragraph (3). Data on the historical demand for behavioral health services by members of the Armed Forces. An estimate of the number of health care providers necessary to meet the demand by such members for behavioral health services under the direct care component of the military health system, disaggregated by provider type. An identification of any shortfall between the estimated number under subparagraph
(F)and the total number of positions for behavioral health providers filled within such workforce. Such other information as the Secretary may determine appropriate. The professions described in this paragraph are as follows: Clinical psychologists. Social workers. Counselors. Such other professions as the Secretary may determine appropriate. Not later than one year 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 plan to address any shortfall of the behavioral health workforce identified under subsection (a)(2)(G). The plan required by paragraph
(1)shall— address, with respect to any shortfall of military behavioral health providers (addressed separately with respect to such providers assigned to military medical treatment facilities and such providers assigned to be embedded within operational units)— recruitment; accession; retention; special pay and other aspects of compensation; workload; the role of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program under chapter 105 of title 10, United States Code; any additional authorities or resources necessary for the Secretary to increase the number of such providers; and such other considerations as the Secretary may consider appropriate; address, with respect to any shortfall of civilian behavioral health providers— recruitment; hiring; retention; pay and benefits; workload; educational scholarship programs; any additional authorities or resources necessary for the Secretary to increase the number of such providers; and such other considerations as the Secretary may consider appropriate; recommend whether the number of military behavioral health providers in each military department should be increased, and if so, by how many; include a plan to expand access to behavioral health services under the military health system through the use of telehealth; include a plan by each military department to allocate additional uniformed mental health providers in military medical treatment facilities at remote installations; and assess the feasibility of hiring civilian mental health providers at remote installations to augment the provision of mental health care services by uniformed mental health providers. In this section: The term behavioral health includes psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work, counseling, and related fields. The term civilian behavioral health provider means a behavioral health provider who is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense. The term military behavioral health provider means a behavioral health provider who is a member of the Armed Forces. The term Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences means the university established under section 2112 of title 10, United States Code.