Sec. 721. Establishment of Indo-Pacific medical readiness program
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Not later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a medical readiness program (referred to in this section as the Program ) to partner with countries in the Indo-Pacific region to gain access to foreign medical facilities during peacetime and wartime operations and maintain military-wide strategies for medical readiness in the region. The objective of the Program shall be to promote the medical readiness of the Armed Forces and the military forces of partner countries for missions during peacetime and wartime operations by— reducing the movement and distance associated with patient care; increasing the medical capacity of the Department of Defense by expanding patient access to medical facilities across the Indo-Pacific region, where and when appropriate; accrediting foreign medical facilities, which will standardize medical procedures, patient care, and policies related to treating members of the Armed Forces and their dependents; and enhancing interoperability and interchangeability through shared patient record management, medical equipment commonality, and coordination of medical care.
In carrying out the Program, the Secretary of Defense shall— assess and integrate current Department of Defense medical capabilities and capacities in the Indo-Pacific region into the Program; select a United States-based accreditation organization to evaluate and accredit foreign medical facilities; coordinate with partner countries to identify and evaluate medical facilities for the Program; establish agreements with foreign medical facilities for potential use of the Program; establish policies and procedures— to reduce patient movement times in various countries in the Indo-Pacific region during peacetime and wartime operations; to standardize medical procedures, patient care, and policies; to securely share patient data with foreign countries, when appropriate, such as during a contingency; with respect to medical equipment commonality and interchangeability; and with respect to the coordination of medical care; and integrate the Program into operational plans of the combatant commands.
Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a strategy for the implementation of the Program. The strategy required by paragraph
(1)shall include the following: A governance structure for the Program, including— the officials tasked to oversee the Program; the functions and duties of such officials with respect to establishing and maintaining the Program; and mechanisms for coordinating with partner countries selected to participate in the Program. With respect to the selection of partner countries initially selected to participate in the Program— an identification of each such country; the rationale for selecting each such country; and any other information the Secretary considers appropriate. A campaign of objectives for the first three fiscal years after the date of the establishment of the Program, including— a description of, and a rational for selecting, such objectives; an identification of milestones toward achieving such objectives; and metrics for evaluating success in achieving such objectives. A description of opportunities and potential timelines for future Program expansion, as appropriate. A list of additional authorities, appropriations, or other congressional support necessary to ensure the success of the Program. Any other information the Secretary considers appropriate. The strategy required by paragraph
(1)shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. Not later than October 1, 2026, and annually thereafter until October 1, 2035, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the Program. Each report required by paragraph
(1)shall include the following: A narrative summary of activities conducted as part of the Program during the preceding fiscal year. Except in the case of the initial report, an assessment of progress toward the objectives establish in accordance with subparagraph
(C)in the report for the preceding fiscal year using the metrics established in such report. A campaign of objectives for the three fiscal years after the date of submission of the report, including— a description of, and a rational for selecting, such objectives; an identification of milestones toward achieving such objectives; and metrics for evaluating success in achieving such objectives. A description of opportunities and potential timelines for future Program expansion, as appropriate. Any other information the Secretary considers appropriate. Each report required by paragraph
(1)shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.