TRICARE Mental Health Services Enhancement Act

TRICARE Mental Health Services Enhancement Act - Amends the TRICARE program (a Department of Defense (DOD) managed health care program) to authorize the provision of mental health counseling for TRICARE participants. Authorizes the provision of mental health services in DOD clinical trials.

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to authorize the Secretary of Defense to enter into personal service contracts with mental health counselors.

Includes mental health counselors within DOD licensure requirements for health-care professionals.

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1358 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1358

 To amend title 10, United States Code, relating to payment of mental 
                    health counselors under TRICARE.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2005

  Mr. Hayes introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 10, United States Code, relating to payment of mental 
                    health counselors under TRICARE.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``TRICARE Mental Health Services 
Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. REIMBURSEMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS UNDER TRICARE.

    (a)  Reimbursement Under TRICARE.--Section 1079(a)(8) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``or licensed or certified mental health 
        counselors'' after ``certified marriage and family therapists'' 
        both places it appears; and
            (2) by inserting ``or licensed or certified mental health 
        counselors'' after ``that the therapists.''
    (b) Authority to Provide Mental Health Services in Clinical 
Trials.--Section 1079(a)(13) of such title is amended by inserting ``, 
licensed or certified mental health counselor,'' after ``certified 
marriage and family therapist''.

SEC. 3. SERVICES OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS.

    (a) Authority to Enter Into Personal Services Contracts.--Section 
704(c)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
1995 (Public Law 103-337; 108 Stat. 2799; 10 U.S.C. 1091 note) is 
amended by inserting ``mental health counselors,'' after 
``psychologists,''.
    (b) Applicability of Licensure Requirement for Health-Care 
Professionals.--Section 1094 (e)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ``mental health counselor,'' after 
``psychologist,''.
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