§ 1071. Purpose of this chapter

Disease and Chronic Care Management

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VII, § 734, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2299, required the Secretary of Defense to develop a fully integrated program on disease and chronic care management for the military health care system with uniform policies and practices throughout the system and an implementation plan for the program and to report to Congress no later than Mar. 1, 2008.

Prevention, Mitigation, and Treatment of Blast Injuries

Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title II, § 256, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3181, as amended by Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(c)(2)(C), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1950, provided for medical research efforts and programs of the Department of Defense relating to the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries, including the designation of an executive agent to coordinate and manage such efforts and programs, conduct studies, and develop training protocols, and required an annual report to Congress through 2008.

Access to Health Care Services for Beneficiaries Eligible for TRICARE and Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care

Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VII, § 708, Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2585, provided that: “(a) Requirement To Establish Process.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe in regulations a process for resolving issues relating to patient safety and continuity of care for covered beneficiaries who are concurrently entitled to health care under the TRICARE program and eligible for health care services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary shall—“(A) ensure that the process provides for coordination of, and access to, health care from the two sources in a manner that prevents diminution of access to health care from either source; and “(B) in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, prescribe a clear definition of an ‘episode of care’ for use in the resolution of patient safety and continuity of care issues under such process. “(2) Not later than May 1, 2003, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and of the House of Representatives a report describing the process prescribed under paragraph (1). “(3) While prescribing the process under paragraph (1) and upon completion of the report under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide to the Comptroller General information that would be relevant in carrying out the study required by subsection (b). “(b) Comptroller General Study and Report.—(1) The Comptroller General shall conduct a study of the health care issues of covered beneficiaries described in subsection (a). The study shall include the following:“(A) An analysis of whether covered beneficiaries who seek services through the Department of Veterans Affairs are receiving needed health care services in a timely manner from the Department of Veterans Affairs, as compared to the timeliness of the care available to covered beneficiaries under TRICARE Prime (as set forth in access to care standards under TRICARE program policy that are applicable to the care being sought). “(B) An evaluation of the quality of care for covered beneficiaries who do not receive needed services from the Department of Veterans Affairs within a time period that is comparable to the time period provided for under such access to care standards and who then must seek alternative care under the TRICARE program. “(C) Recommendations to improve access to, and timeliness and quality of, care for covered beneficiaries described in subsection (a). “(D) An evaluation of the feasibility and advisability of making access to care standards applicable jointly under the TRICARE program and the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. “(E) A review of the process prescribed by the Secretary of Defense under subsection (a) to determine whether the process ensures the adequacy and quality of the health care services provided to covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program and through the Department of Veterans Affairs, together with timeliness of access to such services and patient safety. “(2) Not later than 60 days after the congressional committees specified in subsection (a)(2) receive the report required under that subsection, the Comptroller General shall submit to those committees a report on the study conducted under this subsection. “(c) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) The term ‘covered beneficiary’ has the meaning provided by section 1072(5) of title 10, United States Code. “(2) The term ‘TRICARE program’ has the meaning provided by section 1072(7) of such title. “(3) The term ‘TRICARE Prime’ has the meaning provided by section 1097a(f) of such title.”

Pilot Program Providing for Department of Veterans Affairs Support in the Performance of Separation Physical Examinations

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VII, § 734, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1170, authorized the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly carry out a pilot program, to begin not later than July 1, 2002, and terminate on Dec. 31, 2005, under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in one or more geographic areas, could perform the physical examinations required for separation of members from the uniformed services, and directed the Secretaries to jointly submit to Congress interim and final reports not later than Mar. 1, 2005.

Health Care Management Demonstration Program

[Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. A], title VII, § 733], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–191, as amended by Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VII, § 737, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1173, directed the Secretary of Defense to carry out a demonstration program on health care management, to begin not later than 180 days after Oct. 30, 2000, and terminate on Dec. 31, 2003, to explore opportunities for improving the planning, programming, budgeting systems, and management of the Department of Defense health care system, and directed the Secretary to submit a report on such program to committees of Congress not later than Mar. 15, 2004.

Processes for Patient Safety in Military and Veterans Health Care Systems

[Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. A], title VII, § 742], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–192, provided that: “(a) Error Tracking Process.—The Secretary of Defense shall implement a centralized process for reporting, compilation, and analysis of errors in the provision of health care under the defense health program that endanger patients beyond the normal risks associated with the care and treatment of such patients. To the extent practicable, that process shall emulate the system established by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for reporting, compilation, and analysis of errors in the provision of health care under the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system that endanger patients beyond such risks. “(b) Sharing of Information.—The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs—“(1) shall share information regarding the designs of systems or protocols established to reduce errors in the provision of health care described in subsection (a); and “(2) shall develop such protocols as the Secretaries consider necessary for the establishment and administration of effective processes for the reporting, compilation, and analysis of such errors.”

Cooperation in Developing Pharmaceutical Identification Technology

[Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. A], title VII, § 743], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–192, provided that: “The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall cooperate in developing systems for the use of bar codes for the identification of pharmaceuticals in the health care programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In any case in which a common pharmaceutical is used in such programs, the bar codes for those pharmaceuticals shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be identical.”

Patient Care Reporting and Management System

[Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. A], title VII, § 754], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–196, as amended by Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VII, § 741, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3360, provided that: “(a) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish a patient care error reporting and management system. “(b) Purposes of System.—The purposes of the system are as follows:“(1) To study the occurrences of errors in the patient care provided under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code. “(2) To identify the systemic factors that are associated with such occurrences. “(3) To provide for action to be taken to correct the identified systemic factors. “(c) Requirements for System.—The patient care error reporting and management system shall include the following:“(1) A hospital-level patient safety center, within the quality assurance department of each health care organization of the Department of Defense, to collect, assess, and report on the nature and frequency of errors related to patient care. “(2) For each health care organization of the Department of Defense and for the entire Defense health program, patient safety standards that are necessary for the development of a full understanding of patient safety issues in each such organization and the entire program, including the nature and types of errors and the systemic causes of the errors. “(3) Establishment of a Department of Defense Patient Safety Center, which shall have the following missions:“(A) To analyze information on patient care errors that is submitted to the Center by each military health care organization. “(B) To develop action plans for addressing patterns of patient care errors. “(C) To execute those action plans to mitigate and control errors in patient care with a goal of ensuring that the health care organizations of the Department of Defense provide highly reliable patient care with virtually no error. “(D) To provide, through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of the Department of Health and Human Services any reports that the Assistant Secretary determines appropriate. “(E) To review and integrate processes for reducing errors associated with patient care and for enhancing patient safety. “(F) To contract with a qualified and objective external organization to manage the national patient safety database of the Department of Defense. “(d) Medical Team Training Program.—The Secretary shall expand the health care team coordination program to integrate that program into all Department of Defense health care operations. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall take the following actions:“(1) Establish not less than two Centers of Excellence for the development, validation, proliferation, and sustainment of the health care team coordination program, one of which shall support all fixed military health care organizations, the other of which shall support all combat casualty care organizations. “(2) Deploy the program to all fixed and combat casualty care organizations of each of the Armed Forces, at the rate of not less than 10 organizations in each fiscal year. “(3) Expand the scope of the health care team coordination program from a focus on emergency department care to a coverage that includes care in all major medical specialties, at the rate of not less than one specialty in each fiscal year. “(4) Continue research and development investments to improve communication, coordination, and team work in the provision of health care. “(e) Consultation.—The Secretary shall consult with the other administering Secretaries (as defined in section 1072(3) of title 10, United States Code) in carrying out this section.”

Confidentiality of Communications With Professionals Providing Therapeutic or Related Services Regarding Sexual or Domestic Abuse

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 585, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 636, required the Secretary of Defense to prescribe in regulations policies and procedures to provide maximum protections for the confidentiality of communications between dependents of Armed Forces members and professionals providing therapeutic or related services regarding sexual or domestic abuse and to report to Congress no later than Jan. 21, 2000.

Health Care Quality Information and Technology Enhancement

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VII, § 723, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 695, as amended by [Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. A], title VII, § 753(a)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–195; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VII, § 742, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3360; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, § 1046(e), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2394; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title X, § 1062(j)(1), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1585; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(47), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4310, provided that: “(a) Purpose.—The purpose of this section is to ensure that the Department of Defense addresses issues of medical quality surveillance and implements solutions for those issues in a timely manner that is consistent with national policy and industry standards. “(b) Department of Defense Program for Medical Informatics and Data.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish a Department of Defense program, the purposes of which shall be the following:“(1) To develop parameters for assessing the quality of health care information. “(2) To develop the defense digital patient record. “(3) To develop a repository for data on quality of health care. “(4) To develop capability for conducting research on quality of health care. “(5) To conduct research on matters of quality of health care. “(6) To develop decision support tools for health care providers. “(7) To refine medical performance report cards. “(8) To conduct educational programs on medical informatics to meet identified needs. “(c) Automation and Capture of Clinical Data.—(1) Through the program established under subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall accelerate the efforts of the Department of Defense to automate, capture, and exchange controlled clinical data and present providers with clinical guidance using a personal information carrier, clinical lexicon, or digital patient record. “(2) The program shall serve as a primary resource for the Department of Defense for matters concerning the capture, processing, and dissemination of data on health care quality. “(d) Medical Informatics Advisory Committee.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish a Medical Informatics Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Committee’), the members of which shall be the following:“(A) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. “(B) The Director of the TRICARE Management Activity of the Department of Defense. “(C) The Surgeon General of the Army. “(D) The Surgeon General of the Navy. “(E) The Surgeon General of the Air Force. “(F) Representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs, designated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “(G) Representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services, designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. “(H) Any additional members appointed by the Secretary of Defense to represent health care insurers and managed care organizations, academic health institutions, health care providers (including representatives of physicians and representatives of hospitals), and accreditors of health care plans and organizations. “(2) The primary mission of the Committee shall be to advise the Secretary on the development, deployment, and maintenance of health care informatics systems that allow for the collection, exchange, and processing of health care quality information for the Department of Defense in coordination with other Federal departments and agencies and with the private sector. “(3) Specific areas of responsibility of the Committee shall include advising the Secretary on the following:“(A) The ability of the medical informatics systems at the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to monitor, evaluate, and improve the quality of care provided to beneficiaries. “(B) The coordination of key components of medical informatics systems, including digital patient records, both within the Federal Government and between the Federal Government and the private sector. “(C) The development of operational capabilities for executive information systems and clinical decision support systems within the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. “(D) Standardization of processes used to collect, evaluate, and disseminate health care quality information. “(E) Refinement of methodologies by which the quality of health care provided within the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs is evaluated. “(F) Protecting the confidentiality of personal health information. “(4) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs shall consult with the Committee on the issues described in paragraph (3). “(5) Members of the Committee shall not be paid by reason of their service on the Committee. “(6) Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Committee.”

[Section 1062(j)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 112–81, which directed the redesignation of pars. (6) and (7) as (5) and (6) of section 723(d) of Pub. L. 106–65, set out above, could not be executed due to the prior identical amendment by section 1046(e) of Pub. L. 109–364.]

Joint Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Reports Relating to Interdepartmental Cooperation in Delivery of Medical Care

Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VII, § 745, Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2075, as amended by Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, § 1067(3), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 774; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title X, § 1031(g)(1), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1604, (1) directed the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly conduct a survey of their respective medical care beneficiary populations to identify the expectations of, requirements for, and behavior patterns of the beneficiaries with respect to medical care, and to submit a report on the results of the survey to committees of Congress not later than Jan. 1, 2000; (2) directed the same Secretaries to jointly conduct a review to identify impediments to cooperation between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the delivery of medical care and to submit a report on the results of the review to committees of Congress not later than Mar. 1, 1999; (3) directed the Secretary of Defense to review the TRICARE program to identify opportunities for increased participation by the Department of Veterans Affairs in that program; (4) directed the Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Pharmacy Executive Steering Committee to examine existing pharmaceutical benefits and programs for beneficiaries and review existing methods for contracting for and distributing medical supplies and services and to submit a report on the results of the examination to committees of Congress not later than 60 days after its completion; and (5) directed the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly submit to committees of Congress a report, not later than Mar. 1, 1999, on the status of the efforts of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to standardize physical examinations administered by the two departments for the purpose of determining or rating disabilities.

External Peer Review for Defense Health Program Extramural Medical Research Involving Human Subjects

Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VII, § 742, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2600, provided that: “(a) Establishment of External Peer Review Process.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish a peer review process that will use persons who are not officers or employees of the Government to review the research protocols of medical research projects. “(b) Peer Review Requirements.—Funds of the Department of Defense may not be obligated or expended for any medical research project unless the research protocol for the project has been approved by the external peer review process established under subsection (a). “(c) Medical Research Project Defined.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘medical research project’ means a research project that—“(1) involves the participation of human subjects; “(2) is conducted solely by a non-Federal entity; and “(3) is funded through the Defense Health Program account. “(d) Effective Date.—The peer review requirements of subsection (b) shall take effect on October 1, 1996, and, except as provided in subsection (e), shall apply to all medical research projects proposed funded on or after that date, including medical research projects funded pursuant to any requirement of law enacted before, on, or after that date. “(e) Exceptions.—Only the following medical research projects shall be exempt from the peer review requirements of subsection (b):“(1) A medical research project that the Secretary determines has been substantially completed by October 1, 1996. “(2) A medical research project funded pursuant to any provision of law enacted on or after that date if the provision of law specifically refers to this section and specifically states that the peer review requirements do not apply.”

Annual Beneficiary Survey

Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VII, § 724, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2440, as amended by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title VII, § 717, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2804, provided that: “(a) Survey Required.—The administering Secretaries shall conduct annually a formal survey of persons receiving health care under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, in order to determine the following:“(1) The availability of health care services to such persons through the health care system provided for under that chapter, the types of services received, and the facilities in which the services were provided. “(2) The familiarity of such persons with the services available under that system and with the facilities in which such services are provided. “(3) The health of such persons. “(4) The level of satisfaction of such persons with that system and the quality of the health care provided through that system. “(5) Such other matters as the administering Secretaries determine appropriate. “(b) Exemption.—An annual survey under subsection (a) shall be treated as not a collection of information for the purposes for which such term is defined in section 3502(4) of title 44, United States Code. “(c) Definition.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘administering Secretaries’ has the meaning given such term in section 1072(3) of title 10, United States Code.”

Comprehensive Study of Military Medical Care System

Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VII, § 733, Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1408, as amended by Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VII, § 723, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2440, directed Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study of the military medical care system, not later than Dec. 15, 1992, to submit to congressional defense committees a detailed accounting on progress of the study, including preliminary results of the study, and not later than Dec. 15, 1993, submit to congressional defense committees a final report on the study.

Identification and Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Dependent Persons in the Armed Forces

Pub. L. 92–129, title V, § 501, Sept. 28, 1971, 85 Stat. 361, which directed Secretary of Defense to devise ways to identify, treat, and rehabilitate drug and alcohol dependent members of the armed forces, to identify, refuse admission to, and refer to civilian treatment facilities such persons seeking entrance to the armed forces, and to report to Congress on and suggest additional legislation concerning these matters, was repealed and restated as sections 978 and 1090 of this title by Pub. L. 97–295, §§ 1(14)(A), (15)(A), 6(b), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1289, 1290, 1314.

Definitions

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VII, § 728(c), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2234, provided that: “In this section [amending section 1073b of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section]: “(1) The term ‘Core Quality Measures Collaborative’ means the collaboration between the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, major health insurance companies, national physician organizations, and other entities to reach consensus on core performance measures reported by health care providers. “(2) The term ‘TRICARE program’ has the meaning given that term in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.”

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 13625. Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families

Ex. Ord. No. 13625, Aug. 31, 2012, 77 F.R. 54783, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Since September 11, 2001, more than two million service members have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Long deployments and intense combat conditions require optimal support for the emotional and mental health needs of our service members and their families. The need for mental health services will only increase in the coming years as the Nation deals with the effects of more than a decade of conflict. Reiterating and expanding upon the commitment outlined in my Administration’s 2011 report, entitled “Strengthening Our Military Families,” we have an obligation to evaluate our progress and continue to build an integrated network of support capable of providing effective mental health services for veterans, service members, and their families. Our public health approach must encompass the practices of disease prevention and the promotion of good health for all military populations throughout their lifespans, both within the health care systems of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and in local communities. Our efforts also must focus on both outreach to veterans and their families and the provision of high quality mental health treatment to those in need. Coordination between the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense during service members’ transition to civilian life is essential to achieving these goals.

Ensuring that all veterans, service members (Active, Guard, and Reserve alike), and their families receive the support they deserve is a top priority for my Administration. As part of our ongoing efforts to improve all facets of military mental health, this order directs the Secretaries of Defense, Health and Human Services, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security to expand suicide prevention strategies and take steps to meet the current and future demand for mental health and substance abuse treatment services for veterans, service members, and their families.

Sec. 2. Suicide Prevention. (a) By December 31, 2012, the Department of Veterans Affairs, in continued collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, shall expand the capacity of the Veterans Crisis Line by 50 percent to ensure that veterans have timely access, including by telephone, text, or online chat, to qualified, caring responders who can help address immediate crises and direct veterans to appropriate care. Further, the Department of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that any veteran identifying him or herself as being in crisis connects with a mental health professional or trained mental health worker within 24 hours. The Department of Veterans Affairs also shall expand the number of mental health professionals who are available to see veterans beyond traditional business hours.

(b) The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense shall jointly develop and implement a national suicide prevention campaign focused on connecting veterans and service members to mental health services. This 12-month campaign, which shall begin on September 1, 2012, will focus on the positive benefits of seeking care and encourage veterans and service members to proactively reach out to support services.

(c) To provide the best mental health and substance abuse prevention, education, and outreach support to our military and their family members, the Department of Defense shall review all of its existing mental health and substance abuse prevention, education, and outreach programs across the military services and the Defense Health Program to identify the key program areas that produce the greatest impact on quality and outcomes, and rank programs within each of these program areas using metrics that assess their effectiveness. By the end of Fiscal Year 2014, existing program resources shall be realigned to ensure that highly ranked programs are implemented across all of the military services and less effective programs are replaced.

Sec. 3. Enhanced Partnerships Between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Community Providers. (a) Within 180 days of the date of this order, in those service areas where the Department of Veterans Affairs has faced challenges in hiring and placing mental health service providers and continues to have unfilled vacancies or long wait times, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services shall establish pilot projects whereby the Department of Veterans Affairs contracts or develops formal arrangements with community-based providers, such as community mental health clinics, community health centers, substance abuse treatment facilities, and rural health clinics, to test the effectiveness of community partnerships in helping to meet the mental health needs of veterans in a timely way. Pilot sites shall ensure that consumers of community-based services continue to be integrated into the health care systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs. No fewer than 15 pilot projects shall be established.

(b) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall develop guidance for its medical centers and service networks that supports the use of community mental health services, including telehealth services and substance abuse services, where appropriate, to meet demand and facilitate access to care. This guidance shall include recommendations that medical centers and service networks use community-based providers to help meet veterans’ mental health needs where objective criteria, which the Department of Veterans Affairs shall define in the form of specific metrics, demonstrate such needs. Such objective criteria should include estimates of wait-times for needed care that exceed established targets.

(c) The Departments of Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan for a rural mental health recruitment initiative to promote opportunities for the Department of Veterans Affairs and rural communities to share mental health providers when demand is insufficient for either the Department of Veterans Affairs or the communities to independently support a full-time provider.

Sec. 4. Expanded Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Services Staffing. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, by December 31, 2013, hire and train 800 peer-to-peer counselors to empower veterans to support other veterans and help meet mental health care needs. In addition, the Secretary shall continue to use all appropriate tools, including collaborative arrangements with community-based providers, pay-setting authorities, loan repayment and scholarships, and partnerships with health care workforce training programs to accomplish the Department of Veterans Affairs’ goal of recruiting, hiring, and placing 1,600 mental health professionals by June 30, 2013. The Department of Veterans Affairs also shall evaluate the reporting requirements associated with providing mental health services and reduce paperwork requirements where appropriate. In addition, the Department of Veterans Affairs shall update its management performance evaluation system to link performance to meeting mental health service demand.

Sec. 5. Improved Research and Development. (a) The lack of full understanding of the underlying mechanisms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), other mental health conditions, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has hampered progress in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In order to improve the coordination of agency research into these conditions and reduce the number of affected men and women through better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Education, in coordination with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall establish a National Research Action Plan within 8 months of the date of this order.

(b) The National Research Action Plan shall include strategies to establish surrogate and clinically actionable biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment effectiveness; develop improved diagnostic criteria for TBI; enhance our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for PTSD, related injuries, and neurological disorders following TBI; foster development of new treatments for these conditions based on a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms; improve data sharing between agencies and academic and industry researchers to accelerate progress and reduce redundant efforts without compromising privacy; and make better use of electronic health records to gain insight into the risk and mitigation of PTSD, TBI, and related injuries. In addition, the National Research Action Plan shall include strategies to support collaborative research to address suicide prevention.

(c) The Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services shall engage in a comprehensive longitudinal mental health study with an emphasis on PTSD, TBI, and related injuries to develop better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options. Agencies shall continue ongoing collaborative research efforts, with an aim to enroll at least 100,000 service members by December 31, 2012, and include a plan for long-term follow-up with enrollees through a coordinated effort with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 6. Military and Veterans Mental Health Interagency Task Force. There is established an Interagency Task Force on Military and Veterans Mental Health (Task Force), to be co-chaired by the Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services, or their designated representatives.

(a) Membership. In addition to the Co-Chairs, the Task Force shall consist of representatives from:

(i) the Department of Education;

(ii) the Office of Management and Budget;

(iii) the Domestic Policy Council;

(iv) the National Security Staff;

(v) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;

(vi) the Office of National Drug Control Policy; and

(vii) such other executive departments, agencies, or offices as the Co-Chairs may designate.

A member agency of the Task Force shall designate a full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government to perform the Task Force functions.

(b) Mission. Member agencies shall review relevant statutes, policies, and agency training and guidance to identify reforms and take actions that facilitate implementation of the strategies outlined in this order. Member agencies shall work collaboratively on these strategies and also create an inventory of mental health and substance abuse programs and activities to inform this work.

(c) Functions.

(i) Not later than 180 days after the date of this order, the Task Force shall submit recommendations to the President on strategies to improve mental health and substance abuse treatment services for veterans, service members, and their families. Every year thereafter, the Task Force shall provide to the President a review of agency actions to enhance mental health and substance abuse treatment services for veterans, service members, and their families consistent with this order, as well as provide additional recommendations for action as appropriate. The Task Force shall define specific goals and metrics that will aid in measuring progress in improving mental health strategies. The Task Force will include cost analysis in the development of all recommendations, and will ensure any new requirements are supported within existing resources.

(ii) In addition to coordinating and reviewing agency efforts to enhance veteran and military mental health services pursuant to this order, the Task Force shall evaluate:

(1) agency efforts to improve care quality and ensure that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and community-based mental health providers are trained in the most current evidence-based methodologies for treating PTSD, TBI, depression, related mental health conditions, and substance abuse;

(2) agency efforts to improve awareness and reduce stigma for those needing to seek care; and

(3) agency research efforts to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of TBI, PTSD, and related injuries, and explore the need for an external research portfolio review.

(iii) In performing its functions, the Task Force shall consult with relevant nongovernmental experts and organizations as necessary.

Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

[Reference to the National Security Staff deemed to be a reference to the National Security Council Staff, see Ex. Ord. No. 13657, set out as a note under section 3021 of Title 50, War and National Defense.]