S.Amdt. 5342

1. Adds SEC. 714. FULL ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE WHO ARE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS at the end of subtitle B of title VII

   Adds a section

   In S. 3001 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   "(D) Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, the total cost incurred by the United States for the provision of transportation and expenses (including per diem) with respect to a dependent under this paragraph may not exceed the cost the United States would otherwise incur for the provision of transportation and expenses with respect to the dependent under paragraph (1) if the transportation and expenses were provided to the dependent under paragraph (1) rather than this paragraph.".

   Inserted: SEC. 714. FULL ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE WHO ARE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS.

   Inserted: (a) Initiative To Increase Access to Mental Health Care.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall undertake an initiative intended to increase access to mental health care for family members of members of the National Guard and Reserve deployed overseas during the periods of mobilization, deployment, and demobilization of such members of the National Guard and Reserve.

   Inserted: (2) Elements.--The initiative shall include the following:

   Inserted: (A) Programs and activities to educate the family members of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed overseas on potential mental health challenges connected with such deployment.

   Inserted: (B) Programs and activities to provide such family members with complete information on all mental health resources available to such family members through the Department of Defense and otherwise.

   Inserted: (C) Requirements for mental health counselors at military installations in communities with large numbers of mobilized members of the National Guard and Reserve to expand the reach of their counseling activities to include families of such members in such communities.

   Inserted: (b) Mental Health Care Under TRICARE.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Under such regulations as the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe, reimbursement shall be provided under the TRICARE program under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, for mental health care that is provided to a family member of a covered member of the National Guard or Reserve during the period of deployment of such covered member of the National Guard or Reserve as described in paragraph (2).

   Inserted: (2) Covered members of the national guard or reserve.--For purposes of this subsection, a covered member of the National Guard or Reserve is any member of the National Guard or Reserve on active duty for more than 30 days for a deployment in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, or other operation that requires deployment overseas who, while so on active duty, is covered by the TRICARE program on a for self and family basis.

   Inserted: (3) Effective date.--This subsection shall take effect on January 1, 2009.

   Inserted: (c) Reports.--

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   Inserted: (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on this section.

   Inserted: (2) Elements.--Each report shall include the following:

   Inserted: (A) A current assessment of the extent to which family members of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed have access to, and are utilizing, mental health care available under this section.

   Inserted: (B) A current assessment of the quality of mental health care being provided to family members of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed at State-accredited treatment centers.

   Inserted: (C) Such recommendations for legislative or administration action as the Secretary considers appropriate in order to further assure full access to mental health care by family members of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed during the mobilization, deployment, and demobilization of such members of the National Guard and Reserve.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following:

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As printed