Sec. 729. Task force of Department of Defense on mental health
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/bill/118/hr/2670/rh/section-729·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Defense shall establish a task force to examine matters relating to the mental health of members of the Armed Forces (in this section referred to as the task force ). The Secretary of Defense shall appoint to the task force individuals who have demonstrated expertise in the following areas: National mental health policy. Military personnel policy. Research in the field of mental health. Clinical care in mental health. Military chaplain or pastoral care. The Secretary of Defense shall appoint not more than 15 individuals to the task force in accordance with the following:
The appointees shall include— at least one member of each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the National Guard; at least one surgeon general of an Armed Force; and at least one dependent of a member of the Armed Forces who has experience working with military families. Not fewer than 7 of the appointees shall be individuals who are not members of the Armed Forces, civilian employees of the Department of Defense, or dependents of such members, and shall include— an officer or employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and an officer or employee of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Secretary of Defense shall appoint all members by not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. There shall be two co-chairs of the task force, of whom— one shall be designated by the Secretary at the time of appointment from among the individuals appointed under subparagraph (A); and one shall be selected from among the members appointed under subparagraph
(B)by the members so appointed. Not later than one year after the date on which all members of the task force have been appointed, the task force shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report containing an assessment of, and recommendations for improving, the efficacy of mental health services provided to members of the Armed Forces by the Secretary of Defense. In preparing the report under paragraph (1), the task force shall take into consideration completed and ongoing efforts by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the efficacy of mental health care provided to members of the Armed Forces. The assessment and recommendations specified in paragraph
(1)(including recommendations for legislative or administrative action) shall include measures to improve the following: The awareness of the potential for mental health conditions of members of the Armed Forces. The access to, and efficacy of, existing programs (include telehealth programs) in primary care and mental health care to prevent, identify, and treat mental health conditions of members of the Armed Forces, including programs for— forward-deployed troops; members of the reserve components; and members assigned to remote or austere duty locations. The access to adequate telehealth resources including for members described in subparagraph (B), including access to equipment, bandwidth, and platforms used to deliver care. The assessment of disruptions to mental health care as a result of frequent changes to eligibility and coverage for members of the National Guard under the TRICARE program, as well as potential benefits of more consistent care. Analysis of the potential effect on access and outcomes for members serving on active duty as a result of proposed cuts to military end strengths regarding members with medical military occupational specialties. The access to and programs for family members of members of the Armed Forces, including family members overseas. Access to, and quality of, private mental health care received by members of the Armed Forces through the TRICARE program. The reduction or elimination of barriers to care, including the stigma associated with mental health conditions, by measures including enhanced confidentiality for members of the Armed Forces who seek care for such conditions. The awareness of mental health services available to dependents of members of the Armed Forces. The adequacy of outreach, education, and support programs on mental health matters for families of members of the Armed Forces. The early identification and treatment of mental health and substance abuse problems through the use of internal mass media communications (including radio, and television, social media) and other education tools to change attitudes within the Armed Forces regarding mental health and substance abuse treatment. The transition from mental health care furnished by the Secretary of Defense to such care furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The availability of long-term follow-up and access to care for mental health conditions for members of the Individual Ready Reserve and the Selected Reserve and for discharged, separated, or retired members of the Armed Forces. Collaboration between the heads of elements of the Department of Defense with responsibility for, or jurisdiction over, the provision of mental health services. Coordination between the Secretary of Defense and civilian communities, including State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, and local support organizations, with respect to mental health services. Coordination between the Secretary of Defense and the heads of relevant Federal stakeholders, including the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The scope and efficacy of curricula and training on mental health matters for commanders in the Armed Forces. The efficiency and effectiveness of pre- and post-deployment mental health screenings, including mental health screenings for members of the Armed Forces. The effectiveness of mental health programs provided in languages other than English. Tracking the use of behavioral health services and related outcomes, including wait times, continuity of care, symptom resolution, and maintenance of improvements resulting from treatment. Other matters the task force determines appropriate. Each member of the task force who is a member of the Armed Forces or a civilian officer or employee of the United States Government shall serve without compensation (other than compensation to which entitled as a member of the Armed Forces or an officer or employee of the United States Government, as the case may be). Any member of the task force not described in subparagraph
(A)shall be treated for purposes of section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, as having been appointed under subsection
(b)of such section. The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall oversee the activities of the task force. The Director of the Washington Headquarters Services of the Department of Defense shall provide the task force with personnel, facilities, and other administrative support as necessary for the performance of the duties of the task force. The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall ensure appropriate access by the task force to military installations and facilities for purposes of the discharge of the duties of the task force. The task force shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the appropriate congressional committees the report of the task force under subsection (c)(1). Not later than 180 days after receiving the report of the task force under subsection (c)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall develop a plan based on the recommendations of the task force and submit such plan to the congressional defense committees. For each of the five years following the receipt of the report of the task force under subsection (c)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the recommendations made by the task force with respect to the Department of Defense. Each such report shall include— for each such recommendation, the determination of the Secretary of Defense as to whether to implement the recommendation; in the case of a recommendation the Secretary intends to implement, the intended timeline for implementation, a description of any additional resources or authorities required for such implementation, and the plan for such implementation; in the case of a recommendation the Secretary determines is not advisable or feasible, the analysis and justification of the Secretary in making that determination; and in the case of a recommendation the Secretary determines is already being implemented, the analysis and justification of the Secretary in making that determination. Not less frequently than annually during the five-year period following the receipt of the report of the task force under subsection (c)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on— the progress of the Secretary of Defense in analyzing and implementing the recommendations made by the task force; any programs, projects, or other activities of the Department of Defense that are being carried out to implement such recommendations; and the amount of funding provided for such programs, projects, and activities. In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate.