Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015

To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide an individual with a mental health screening before the individual enlists in the Armed Forces or is commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015 2. Preliminary mental health screenings for individuals becoming members of the Armed Forces (a) In general Chapter 31 520d. Preliminary mental health screenings (a) Provision of mental health screening Before any individual enlists in an armed force or is commissioned as an officer in an armed force, the Secretary concerned shall provide the individual with a mental health screening. (b) Use of screening (1) The Secretary shall use the results of a mental screening conducted under subsection (a) as a baseline for any subsequent mental health examinations of the individual, including such examinations provided under sections 1074f and 1074m of this title. (2) The Secretary may not consider the results of a mental health screening conducted under subsection (a) in determining the promotion of a member of the armed forces. (c) Application of privacy laws With respect to applicable laws and regulations relating to the privacy of information, the Secretary shall treat a mental health screening conducted under subsection (a) in the same manner as the medical records of a member of the armed forces. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 520c the following new item: 520d. Preliminary mental health screenings. . (c) Reports (1) Initial report (A) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health shall submit to Congress and the Secretary of Defense a report on preliminary mental health screenings of members of the Armed Forces. (B) Matters included The report under subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i) Recommendations with respect to establishing a preliminary mental health screening of members of the Armed Forces to bring mental health screenings to parity with physical screenings of members. (ii) Recommendations with respect to the composition of the mental health screening, evidenced-based best practices, and how to track changes in mental health screenings relating to traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions. (C) Coordination The National Institute of Mental Health shall carry out subparagraph (A) in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the surgeons general of the military departments, and other relevant experts. (2) Reports on efficacy of screenings (A) Secretary of Defense Not later than one year after the date on which the Secretary of Defense begins providing preliminary mental health screenings under section 520d(a) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the efficacy of such preliminary mental health screenings. (B) Comptroller General Not later than one year after the submittal of the report under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the efficacy of the preliminary mental health screenings described in such subparagraph. (C) Matters included The reports required by subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall include the following: (i) An evaluation of the evidence-based best practices used by the Secretary in composing and conducting preliminary mental health screenings of members of the Armed Forces under such section 520d(a). (ii) An evaluation of the evidence-based best practices used by the Secretary in tracking changes in mental health screenings relating to traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions among members of the Armed Forces. (d) Implementation of preliminary mental health screening The Secretary of Defense may not provide a preliminary mental health screening under section 520d(a) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), until the Secretary receives and evaluates the initial report required by subsection (c)(1). 3. Report on efficacy of physical examinations for certain members of the Armed Forces upon separation from active duty (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the efficacy of the mental health components of the physical examinations provided under paragraph (5) of section 1145(a) of title 10, United States Code, to members of the Armed Forces who are separated from active duty as described in paragraph (2) of such section. (b) Evaluation of effectiveness The report required by subsection (a) shall include an evaluation of the effectiveness of the physical examinations described in such subsection in— (1) identifying members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health conditions; and (2) ensuring that health care is provided for such members.

Summary: Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015 Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to: (1) provide an individual with a mental health screening before such individual enlists or is commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces, and (2) use such results as a baseline for any subsequent mental health examinations. Prohibits the Secretary from considering the results of such screening in determining the promotion of a member of the Armed Forces. Directs the Secretary to treat a screening in the same manner as medical records with respect to laws and regulations relating to the privacy of information. Requires the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health to submit to Congress and the Department of Defense (DOD) a report on preliminary mental health screenings of members of the Armed Forces, including recommendations regarding: (1) establishing preliminary mental health screenings to establish parity with physical screenings; and (2) the composition of the mental health screening, evidenced-based best practices, and how to track changes relating to traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions. Directs DOD and the Government Accountability Office to report on the efficacy of preliminary mental health screenings. Requires DOD to report on the efficacy of the mental health components of the physical examinations to members of the Armed Forces who are separated from active duty.