II 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1363 

To improve health care for severely injured members and former members 

of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 10, 2007 

Mrs. CLINTON (for herself and Mr. DURBIN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To improve health care for severely injured members and 

former members of the Armed Forces, 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 ‘‘Bridging the Gap for 

5 Wounded Warriors Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. HEALTH CARE FOR SEVERELY INJURED MEMBERS 

7 OF THE ARMED FORCES. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.— 

9 (1) TREATMENT AS ON ACTIVE DUTY OF MEM10 BERS OTHERWISE RETIRED FOR PHYSICAL DISVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:17 May 11, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1363.IS S1363

hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
2 

•S 1363 IS

1 ABILITY.—Any member of the Armed Forces who is 

2 medically retired because of physical disability under 

3 chapter 61 of title 10, United States Code, for a dis4 ability incurred in or aggravated by service in the 

5 Armed Forces shall be treated, during the period de6 scribed in paragraph (3), as a member of the Armed 

7 Forces on active duty for purposes of the entitle8 ment of such member to health care services and 

9 benefits under law. 

10 (2) SERVICES AND BENEFITS.—The services 

11 and benefits to which a member is entitled under 

12 paragraph (1) shall not include pay and compensa13 tion for active duty. 

14 (3) PERIOD OF TREATMENT.—The period for 

15 which a member of the Armed Forces shall be treat16 ed as a member of the Armed Forces on active duty 

17 under paragraph (1) shall be the longer of— 

18 (A) the two-year period beginning on the 

19 date on which the member is medically retired 

20 as described in that paragraph; or 

21 (B) the period, if applicable, during which 

22 the member’s name is on the temporary dis23 ability retirement list. 

24 (4) ENTITLEMENT TO HEALTH CARE.—Each 

25 member of the Armed Forces treated under paraVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:17 May 11, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1363.IS S1363

hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
3 

•S 1363 IS

1 graph (1) as a member of the Armed Forces on ac2 tive duty shall be entitled, while so treated, to any 

3 health care services and benefits to which a member 

4 of the Armed Forces on active duty is otherwise en5 titled under law. 

6 (5) CONSTRUCTION.—The treatment under 

7 paragraph (1) of a member of the Armed Forces as 

8 a member of the Armed Forces on active duty shall 

9 not be construed to affect or alter the treatment of 

10 the member as medically retired, or on active duty, 

11 as applicable, for any other purpose under any other 

12 applicable provision of law. 

13 (b) MEMBERS RECEIVING CARE FROM DEPARTMENT

14 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.— 

15 (1) TREATMENT AS VETERAN.—Any member of 

16 the Armed Forces on active duty who receives health 

17 care and services from the Department of Veterans 

18 Affairs for a wound, injury, or illness incurred in or 

19 aggravated by service in the Armed Forces for which 

20 the member would otherwise be eligible for medical 

21 retirement because of physical disability under chap22 ter 61 of title 10, United States Code, shall, during 

23 the period described in paragraph (3), be treated as 

24 a veteran for purposes of the entitlement of such 

25 member to health care services and benefits under 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
4 

•S 1363 IS

1 the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 

2 Affairs. 

3 (2) SERVICES AND BENEFITS.—The services 

4 and benefits to which a member is entitled under 

5 paragraph (1) shall not include pay and compensa6 tion for active duty. 

7 (3) PERIOD OF TREATMENT.—The period for 

8 which a member of the Armed Forces shall be treat9 ed as a veteran under paragraph (1) shall be the 

10 longer of— 

11 (A) the two-year period beginning on the 

12 date on which the member incurs or aggravates 

13 the wound or injury providing the basis of such 

14 treatment under that paragraph; or 

15 (B) the period during which the member is 

16 assigned to the Department of Veterans Affairs 

17 for purposes of receipt of health care services 

18 and benefits from the Department. 

19 (4) ENTITLEMENT TO HEALTH CARE.—Each 

20 member of the Armed Forces treated under para21 graph (1) as a veteran shall be entitled, while so 

22 treated, to any health care services and benefits to 

23 which a veteran with a service-connected disability, 

24 in accordance with the clinical needs of such veteran, 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
5 

•S 1363 IS

1 would be entitled under the laws administered by the 

2 Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

3 (5) COST OF CARE.—The costs of any health 

4 care and services furnished under this subsection 

5 shall be borne by the Secretary of Defense. The Sec6 retary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Af7 fairs shall enter into a memorandum of under8 standing setting forth mechanisms for the payment 

9 of such costs by the Secretary of Defense. 

10 (6) CONSTRUCTION.—The treatment under 

11 paragraph (1) of a member of the Armed Forces as 

12 a veteran shall not be construed— 

13 (A) to affect or alter the treatment of the 

14 member as a member of the Armed Forces on 

15 active duty; or 

16 (B) to affect, alter, or impair the eligibility 

17 or entitlement of the member for benefits under 

18 the laws administered by the Secretary of Vet19 erans Affairs or the Secretary of Defense after 

20 separation, release, or retirement from the 

21 Armed Forces. 

22 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

23 for members of the Armed Forces wounded or injured on 

24 or after October 7, 2001. However, no compensation is 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
6 

•S 1363 IS

1 payable under this section for any period before the date 

2 of the enactment of this Act. 

3 SEC. 3. JOINT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE–DEPARTMENT 

4 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE FOR COORDI5 NATION OF ASSISTANCE DURING TRANSI6 TION OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 

7 FROM MILITARY SERVICE TO CIVILIAN LIFE. 

8 (a) OFFICE.— 

9 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of De10 fense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

11 jointly establish a joint office for the Department of 

12 Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs for 

13 the coordination of assistance to members of the 

14 Armed Forces in their transition from service in the 

15 Armed Forces to civilian life. 

16 (2) NAME.—The office established under para17 graph (1) shall be known as the ‘‘Department of De18 fense–Department of Veterans Affairs Office of 

19 Transition’’ (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Of20 fice’’). 

21 (b) LEADERSHIP.— 

22 (1) DIRECTOR.—The Director of the Depart23 ment of Defense–Department of Veterans Affairs 

24 Office of Transition shall be the head of the Office. 

25 The Director shall be an individual as follows: 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
7 

•S 1363 IS

1 (A) During the one-year period beginning 

2 on the date of the enactment of this Act, and 

3 every second one-year period thereafter, the Di4 rector shall be an official of the Department of 

5 the Veterans Affairs assigned to that position 

6 by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 

7 among officials of the Department of Veterans 

8 Affairs having civilian rank equivalent to the 

9 military grade of brigadier general or rear ad10 miral (lower half). 

11 (B) During each one-year period not cov12 ered by subparagraph (A), the Director shall be 

13 a member of the Armed Forces on active duty 

14 assigned to that position by the Secretary of 

15 Defense from among members of the Armed 

16 Forces on active duty in the grade of brigadier 

17 general or rear admiral (lower half). 

18 (2) DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—The Deputy Director 

19 of the Department of Defense–Department of Vet20 erans Affairs Office of Transition shall be the dep21 uty director of the Office. The Deputy Director shall 

22 be an individual as follows: 

23 (A) During the one-year period beginning 

24 on the date of the enactment of this Act, and 

25 every second one-year period thereafter, the 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
8 

•S 1363 IS

1 Deputy Director shall be a member of the 

2 Armed Forces on active duty assigned to that 

3 position by the Secretary of Defense from 

4 among members of the Armed Forces on active 

5 duty in the grade of brigadier general or rear 

6 admiral (lower half). 

7 (B) During each one-year period not cov8 ered by subparagraph (A), the Deputy Director 

9 shall be an official of the Department of the 

10 Veterans Affairs assigned to that position by 

11 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from among 

12 officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

13 having civilian rank equivalent to the military 

14 grade of brigadier general of rear admiral 

15 (lower half). 

16 (3) ACCESS.—The Director shall have direct ac17 cess to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 

18 of Veterans Affairs regarding the discharge of the 

19 functions of the Office. 

20 (c) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Office shall 

21 include, but not be limited to, the following: 

22 (1) The development and implementation of 

23 policies originating in the Office of the Secretary of 

24 Defense that pertain to the transition of members of 

25 the Armed Forces from service in the Armed Forces 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
9 

•S 1363 IS

1 to civilian life and the resolution of policy issues that 

2 arise between the Department of Defense and the 

3 Department of Veterans Affairs on matters relating 

4 to the continuity of care and benefits for members 

5 of the Armed Forces from the Department of De6 fense and the Department of Veterans Affairs dur7 ing and after the transition from service in the 

8 Armed Forces to civilian life. 

9 (2) To develop a standard medical record for 

10 both the Department of Defense and the Depart11 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

12 (3) With respect to members of the Armed 

13 Forces undergoing discharge, separation, or release 

14 from the Armed Forces, to develop an electronic 

15 standard certificate of release or discharge from ac16 tive duty for transfer to the Department of Veterans 

17 Affairs. 

18 (4) To develop uniform standards, to be appli19 cable across the military departments and to the De20 partment of Veterans Affairs, for the physical exam21 ination to be provided to members of the Armed 

22 Forces immediately before discharge, separation, or 

23 release from the Armed Forces. 

24 (5) To develop uniform standards, to be appli25 cable across the military departments and to the DeVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:17 May 11, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1363.IS S1363

hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
10 

•S 1363 IS

1 partment of Veterans Affairs, for the rating of dis2 abilities incurred or aggravated by members of the 

3 Armed Forces during service in the Armed Forces. 

4 (6) To establish uniform policies, where prac5 ticable, on the provision of pay and allowances for 

6 travel for members of the Armed Forces, and their 

7 designated caregivers (if appropriate), who are re8 ceiving health care benefits from the Department of 

9 Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs at 

10 the time of discharge, separation, or release from 

11 the Armed Forces. 

12 (7) Oversight of the establishment by the mili13 tary departments of policies to ensure that members 

14 of the Armed Forces who, at the time of discharge, 

15 separation, or release from the Armed Forces re16 quire medical care or counseling for a wound, injury, 

17 or condition incurred or aggravated in service in the 

18 Armed Forces, receive the care and services (includ19 ing case management services) they require during 

20 discharge, separation, or release from the Armed 

21 Forces and thereafter. 

22 (8) To improve the sharing between the De23 fense Finance and Accounting Service and the De24 partment of Veterans Affairs of information to fa25 cilitate the payment of retired pay, compensation, 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
11 

•S 1363 IS

1 and other post-separation benefits to members of the 

2 armed forces undergoing discharge, separation, re3 lease, or retirement from the armed forces, and their 

4 dependents or survivors, including information nec5 essary for the payment of— 

6 (A) retired or retirement pay; 

7 (B) veterans disability compensation, in8 cluding concurrent receipt of veterans disability 

9 compensation and retired pay; 

10 (C) combat-related special compensation 

11 under section 1413 of title 10, United States 

12 Code; 

13 (D) benefits under the Survivor Benefit 

14 Plan and veterans dependency and indemnity 

15 compensation; and 

16 (E) such other pay or benefits to which 

17 such members, and the dependents or survivors, 

18 are entitled. 

19 (9) To develop protocols for the collaboration of 

20 the Department of Defense and the Department of 

21 Veterans Affairs in the use of medical facilities 

22 shared by the Departments, for the allocation of 

23 costs for such use, and for the sharing of pertinent 

24 research information between the Department of De25 fense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
12 

•S 1363 IS

1 (10) To provide for the sharing between the 

2 Department of Defense and the Department of Vet3 erans Affairs of best practices on care, treatment, 

4 and services for individuals and their family mem5 bers for conditions incident to wounds or injuries in6 curred in combat, including, but not limited to, men7 tal health conditions (including post-traumatic stress 

8 disorder (PTSD)), traumatic brain injury (TBI), 

9 limb function loss (including burns, broken and frac10 tured bones, amputations), vision problems, and spi11 nal cord injuries. 

12 (11) To monitor the efficiency and effectiveness 

13 of the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers of the De14 partment, the Centers of Excellence of the Office of 

15 Research and Development of the Department of 

16 Veterans Affairs, and appropriate medical treatment 

17 facilities. 

18 (12) To perform the functions of the Office of 

19 Seamless Transition as transferred to the Office by 

20 subsection (h). 

21 (13) To resolve policy issues that arise between 

22 and among the military departments and the De23 partment of Veterans Affairs on matters relating to 

24 care and benefits for members of the Armed Forces 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
13 

•S 1363 IS

1 undergoing discharge, separation, release, or retire2 ment from the Armed Forces. 

3 (d) RESOLUTION OF POLICY ISSUES.—Any resolution 

4 by the Office of a policy issue under paragraph (13) sub5 section (c) that involves a military department shall be 

6 subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense. Any 

7 resolution by the Office of a policy issue under that para8 graph that involves the Department of Veterans Affairs 

9 shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of Vet10 erans Affairs. 

11 (e) PARTICIPATION OF OTHER AGENCY PER12 SONNEL.—The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 

13 Veterans Affairs shall, with the consent of the head of the 

14 department or agency concerned, provide for the participa15 tion in the activities of the Office of such personnel from 

16 other departments and agencies of the Federal Govern17 ment having responsibilities relating to the transition of 

18 members of the Armed Forces from service in the Armed 

19 Forces to civilian life as is necessary to ensure the effective 

20 coordination of the activities of the Office with the activi21 ties of such departments and agencies relating to the tran22 sition of members of the Armed Forces from service in 

23 the Armed Forces to civilian life. 

24 (f) REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS.— 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
14 

•S 1363 IS

1 (1) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than six 

2 months after the date of the establishment of the 

3 Office, and every six months thereafter, the Director 

4 of the Department of Defense–Department of Vet5 erans Affairs Office of Transition shall submit to the 

6 Department of Veterans Affairs–Department of De7 fense Joint Executive Committee, and to the appro8 priate committees of Congress, a briefing on the ac9 tivities of the Office during the six-month period 

10 ending on the date of such report. 

11 (2) ANNUAL REPORTS REQUIRED.—The Direc12 tor of the Department of Defense–Department of 

13 Veterans Affairs Office of Transition shall on an an14 nual basis submit to the Department of Veterans Af15 fairs–Department of Defense Joint Executive Com16 mittee, and to the appropriate committees of Con17 gress, a report on the Office. Each report under this 

18 paragraph shall include the following: 

19 (A) A description and assessment of the 

20 activities of the Office during the year pre21 ceding the year in which such report is sub22 mitted. 

23 (B) A discussion of the activities proposed 

24 for the Office during the year in which the re25 port is submitted, including schedules for asVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:17 May 11, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1363.IS S1363

hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
15 

•S 1363 IS

1 sessments, recommendations, and implementa2 tion of such activities. 

3 (3) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS

4 DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro5 priate committees of Congress’’ means— 

6 (A) the Committees on Armed Services 

7 and Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

8 (B) the Committees on Armed Services 

9 and Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep10 resentatives. 

11 (g) BIENNIAL ASSESSMENT BY GAO.—Not later 

12 than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

13 and every two years thereafter, the Comptroller General 

14 of the United States shall submit to the appropriate com15 mittees of Congress (as defined in subsection (f)(3)) a re16 port setting forth the assessment of the Comptroller Gen17 eral of the progress made by the Defense–Department of 

18 Veterans Affairs Office of Transition in carrying out its 

19 functions under subsection (c). 

20 (h) TRANSFER OF OFFICE OF SEAMLESS TRANSI21 TION.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The responsibilities, func23 tions, and powers of the Office of Seamless Transi24 tion of the Department of Veterans Affairs are hereVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:17 May 11, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1363.IS S1363

hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
16 

•S 1363 IS

1 by transferred to the Department of Defense–De2 partment of Veterans Affairs Office of Transition. 

3 (2) TERMINATION.—The responsibilities of the 

4 Office of Seamless Transition of the Department of 

5 Veterans Affairs are hereby terminated. 

6 (i) TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF APPLICABLE

7 DOD OFFICES.—The Secretary of Defense shall provide 

8 for the transfer to the Department of Defense–Depart9 ment of Veterans Affairs Office of Transition of such 

10 functions and responsibilities of offices and elements of 

11 the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the Secretary 

12 considers appropriate, consistent with the functions of the 

13 Defense–Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Transi14 tion under subsection (c), to facilitate the discharge by 

15 the Office of its functions under that subsection. 

16 (j) JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.—Section 

17 320(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

18 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

19 the end; 

20 (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period 

21 at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

22 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub23 paragraph: 

24 ‘‘(C) the Director of the Department of De25 fense–Department of Veterans Affairs Office of 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
17 

•S 1363 IS

1 Transition and the Deputy Director of the Depart2 ment of Defense–Department of Veterans Affairs 

3 Office of Transition.’’. 

4 (k) FUNDING.—The Secretary of Defense and the 

5 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly make available 

6 from the DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund 

7 each fiscal year such amounts as are required for the ac8 tivities of the Department of Defense–Department of Vet9 erans Affairs Office of Transition during such fiscal year. 

10 SEC. 4. REFORM OF DISABILITY RATING SYSTEMS OF THE 

11 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE DE12 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

13 (a) ACTIONS FOLLOWING DETERMINATION OF

14 UNFITNESS FOR DUTIES.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para16 graph (3), each member of the Armed Forces who 

17 is determined by the Secretary of the military de18 partment concerned to be unfit to perform the duties 

19 of the member’s office, grade, rank, or rating be20 cause a physical disability described in section 

21 1201(a) or 1203(a) of title 10, United States Code, 

22 shall— 

23 (A) be evaluated by a disability ratings 

24 team of the Department of Veterans Affairs at 

25 the military medical treatment facility at which 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
18 

•S 1363 IS

1 the member is currently receiving care for pur2 poses of the assignment of a prestabilization 

3 disability rating, if applicable; and 

4 (B)(i) if determined pursuant to evaluation 

5 under subparagraph (A) to have a 

6 prestabilization rating of 50 percent or 100 per7 cent disabled (as determined in accordance with 

8 the provisions of section 4.28 of title 38, Code 

9 of Federal Regulations), be placed on the tem10 porary disability retired list to receive com11 pensation from the Department of Veterans Af12 fairs in accordance with such prestabilization 

13 rating of disability, pending the assignment of 

14 a final disability rating by a disability ratings 

15 team of the Department of Veterans Affairs; or 

16 (ii) if determined pursuant to evaluation 

17 under subparagraph (A) not to qualify for a 

18 prestabilization rating described in clause (i), be 

19 further evaluated by a disability ratings team of 

20 the Department of Veterans Affairs at the mili21 tary medical treatment facility at which the 

22 member is currently receiving care for purposes 

23 of assigning a final disability rating to the 

24 member while still on active duty. 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
19 

•S 1363 IS

1 (2) DOCUMENTATION OF DETERMINATIONS.— 

2 The Secretary of the military department concerned 

3 shall document, in writing, each determination of 

4 unfitness made as described in paragraph (1). 

5 (3) APPEAL OF DETERMINATION OF

6 UNFITNESS.—Any member of the Armed Forces 

7 subject to a determination of unfitness to perform 

8 the duties of the member’s office, grade, rank, or 

9 rating described in paragraph (1) may appeal that 

10 determination under such procedures as the Sec11 retary of Defense shall prescribe for purposes of this 

12 paragraph. Such procedures shall include— 

13 (A) mechanisms for the appeal of a deter14 mination of unfitness; 

15 (B) procedures and standards for the con16 sideration of any such appeal; and 

17 (C) mechanisms for the return of the 

18 member to active duty in the event the mem19 ber’s appeal is successful. 

20 (b) UTILIZATION OF FINAL DISABILITY RATING.— 

21 The Secretary of Defense shall utilize the final disability 

22 rating that was documented by the Secretary of the mili23 tary department concerned as rendering a member of the 

24 Armed Forces unfit for duty for purposes of determining 

25 the eligibility of the member for retirement pay and other 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
20 

•S 1363 IS

1 benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of 

2 Defense. 

3 (c) REPEAL OF LIMITATION ON COMMENCEMENT OF

4 PERIOD OF PAYMENT.— 

5 (1) REPEAL.—Section 5111 of title 38, United 

6 States Code, is repealed. 

7 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec8 tions at the beginning of chapter 51 of such title is 

9 amended by striking the item relating to section 

10 5111. 

11 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

12 hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 

13 be necessary to carry out this section. 

14 SEC. 5. REPORTS ON PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF DE15 FENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF16 FAIRS FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND TREAT17 MENT OF WOUNDED MEMBERS OF THE 

18 ARMED FORCES. 

19 (a) PRELIMINARY REPORT.—Not later than 120 days 

20 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp21 troller General of the United States shall submit to Con22 gress a preliminary assessment of the extent to which 

23 medical facilities of the Department of Defense and the 

24 Department of Veterans Affairs offer interdisciplinary 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
21 

•S 1363 IS

1 medical treatment for wounded members of the Armed 

2 Forces. 

3 (b) FINAL REPORT.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year the 

5 date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 

6 General shall submit to Congress a final report on 

7 the extent to which medical facilities of the Depart8 ment of Defense and the Department of Veterans 

9 Affairs offer interdisciplinary medical treatment for 

10 wounded members of the Armed Forces. 

11 (2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para12 graph (1) shall include a comprehensive assessment 

13 of medical facilities of the Department of Defense 

14 and the Department of Veterans Affairs that offer 

15 services in each of the following areas: 

16 (A) Mental health. 

17 (B) Behavioral neurology. 

18 (C) Neurology, including treatment of 

19 traumatic epilepsy. 

20 (D) Physical rehabilitation. 

21 (E) Vocational training. 

22 (F) Any other health care areas that the 

23 Comptroller General considers appropriate. 

Æ 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS