I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1832 

To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the State licensure 

exception for certain health-care professionals, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 11, 2011 

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania (for himself, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. MCCAUL, 

Mr. MEEKS, Mr. PLATTS, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. 

KISSELL, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. HANNA, Mr. BUCSHON, and Mr. 

LONG) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 

case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 

the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the State 

licensure exception for certain health-care professionals, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Servicemembers’ Tele5 medicine and E–Health Portability Act of 2011’’ or the 

6 ‘‘STEP Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

2 It is the sense of Congress that— 

3 (1) the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 

4 of Veterans Affairs need to renew and improve ef5 forts to reach out to rural America, which has less 

6 access to care; 

7 (2) behavioral health services for active duty 

8 members of the Armed Forces, members of the re9 serve components, members of the National Guard, 

10 and veterans need to be more easily and readily ac11 cessible; and 

12 (3) medical records and records of deployment 

13 need a ‘‘warm transition’’ and better collaboration 

14 between the Department of Defense and the Depart15 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

16 SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF STATE LICENSURE EXCEPTION FOR 

17 CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1094(d) of title 10, 

19 United States Code, is amended— 

20 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

21 (A) by inserting ‘‘at any location’’ before 

22 ‘‘in any State’’; and 

23 (B) by striking ‘‘regardless’’ and all that 

24 follows through the end and inserting ‘‘regard25 less of where such health-care professional or 

26 the patient are located, so long as the practice 


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1 is within the scope of the authorized Federal 

2 duties.’’; and 

3 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘member of 

4 the armed forces’’ and inserting ‘‘member of the 

5 armed forces, civilian employee of the Department of 

6 Defense, personal services contractor under section 

7 1091 of this title, or other health-care professional 

8 credentialed and privileged at a Federal health care 

9 institution or location specially designated by the 

10 Secretary for this purpose’’. 

11 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

12 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, 

13 in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 

14 shall submit to Congress a report on the plans to develop 

15 and expand programs to use new Internet and communica16 tion technologies for improved access to care and re17 sources, including telemedicine, telehealth care services, 

18 and telebehavioral health programs that ensure patient 

19 privacy. 

20 (c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 

21 prescribe regulations to carry out the amendments made 

22 by this Act. 

Æ 


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