To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly operate the Federal Recovery Coordination Program, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. IMPROVEMENT OF FEDERAL RECOVERY COORDINATOR PROGRAM.

    (a) Provision of Collaborative Recovery Coordinator Training.--The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide collaborative recovery 
coordinator training at a qualified nursing or medical school selected 
by the Secretary (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 
``qualified nursing or medical school''), to lead systematic evidence 
review of care coordination and consensus conference to build the model 
on evidence-based guidelines.
    (b) Literature Review; Consensus Conference.--
            (1) In general.--The qualified nursing or medical school is 
        hereby designated to lead literature review and development of 
        evidence-based guidelines for recovery coordination, 
        development of training modules for care coordination and 
        software that is compatible with Department of Veterans Affairs 
        systems for recovery coordination. The qualified nursing or 
        medical school is hereby designated to lead a consensus 
        conference on evidence-based care coordination.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated $1,200,000 to carry out this subsection.
    (c) Care Coordination Software Development.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
                    (A) enter into a subcontract with an appropriate 
                entity for the development of care coordination 
                software;
                    (B) carry out a conference for recovery coordinator 
                tool validation; and
                    (C) carry out a software pilot program.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated $1,200,000 to carry out this subsection.
    (d) Recovery Coordinator Training.--
            (1) In general.--The qualified nursing or medical school is 
        authorized to train 45 recovery coordinators.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--For each of fiscal 
        years 2016, 2017, and 2018, there is authorized to be 
        appropriated $500,000 for training authorized under this 
        subsection.

SEC. 2. JOINT OPERATION OF FEDERAL RECOVERY COORDINATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Federal Recovery Coordination Program.--In carrying out the 
Federal Recovery Coordination Program (in this section referred to as 
the ``Program''), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall ensure that--
            (1) the program is operated jointly by the Secretaries;
            (2) the administration of the Program is not delegated to 
        an individual outside the respective office of each Secretary;
            (3) the program assists--
                    (A) members of the Armed Forces with severe or 
                catastrophic injuries or illnesses who are unlikely to 
                return to active duty and will most likely be medically 
                separated under chapter 61 of title 10, United States 
                Code; and
                    (B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans whose 
                individual circumstances (including illness, injury, 
                mental health, family situation, and unique benefit 
                needs) are determined by the Secretary concerned to 
                cause difficulties to the member or veteran in 
                transitioning to civilian life;
            (4) in referring members and veterans described in 
        paragraph (3) to the Program, the Secretary of each military 
        department and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs makes such 
        referrals at the earliest time feasible, including by the date 
        that is 180 days before the last day of the month in which a 
        member is expected to be retired or separated from the Armed 
        Forces; and
            (5) each department and agency of the Federal Government, 
        including the Department of Defense and the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs, provides a Federal Recovery Coordinator of 
        the Program with the information, coordination, and cooperation 
        necessary for the Coordinator to assist members and veterans 
        participating in the Program, including the maximum amount of 
        information, coordination, and cooperation available to allow 
        the Coordinator to--
                    (A) ensure the efficient recovery, transition, and 
                reintegration of such members and veterans;
                    (B) act as a liaison between such members and 
                veterans and the team of care providers and other 
                personnel involved with the recovery, transition, and 
                reintegration of the member or veteran, regardless of 
                whether such team is under the Secretary of Defense or 
                the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
                    (C) work closely with case and care-management 
                programs that assist such members and veterans.
    (b) Plan and Memorandum of Understanding.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
            (1) jointly develop a plan to carry out subsection (a);
            (2) enter into a memorandum of understanding to jointly 
        carry out the plan beginning 90 days after the date on which 
        the memorandum is entered into; and
            (3) jointly submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees such plan and memorandum.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the 
memorandum of understanding under paragraph (2) of subsection (b) goes 
into effect, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report describing and evaluating the implementation of 
such memorandum and plan under paragraph (1) of such subsection.
    (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
            (1) The Committees on Armed Services of the House of 
        Representatives and Senate.
            (2) The Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives and Senate.

Summary: Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide collaborative recovery coordinator training at a qualified nursing or medical school selected by the VA, to lead the systematic evidence review of care coordination and a consensus conference to build the model on evidence-based guidelines. Designates such school to lead: (1) the literature review and development of evidence-based guidelines for recovery coordination, training modules for care coordination, and software that is compatible with VA systems for recovery coordination. And (2) a consensus conference on evidence-based care coordination. Directs the VA to: (1) subcontract with an appropriate entity for the development of care coordination software, (2) carry out a conference for recovery coordinator tool validation, and (3) carry out a software pilot program. Authorizes the qualified nursing or medical school to train 45 recovery coordinators. Directs the VA and the Department of Defense (DOD), in carrying out the Federal Recovery Coordination Program, to jointly develop, and enter a memorandum to carry out, a plan to ensure that: the Program is operated jointly by the Secretaries. The administration of the Program is not delegated to an individual outside the respective office of each Secretary. The Program assists members of the Armed Forces with severe or catastrophic injuries or illnesses who are unlikely to return to active duty and who will most likely be medically separated and members and veterans whose individual circumstances cause difficulties in transitioning to civilian life. The VA Secretary and the Secretaries of the military departments refer members and veterans to the Program at the earliest possible time. And each federal agency provides a Federal Recovery Coordinator of the Program with the information, coordination, and cooperation necessary for the Coordinator to assist participating members and veterans.