I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1465 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 19, 2015 
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. CRAMER, 
Mr. MCCAUL, and Mr. RUSH) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide an indi-
vidual with a mental health screening before the indi-
vidual enlists in the Armed Forces or is commissioned 
as an officer in the Armed Forces, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medical Evaluation 
Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015’’. 
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SEC. 2. PRELIMINARY MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR 
INDIVIDUALS BECOMING MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 31 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 520d. Preliminary mental health screenings 
‘‘(a) PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING.— 
Before any individual enlists in an armed force or is com-
missioned 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 sub-
section (a) as a baseline for any subsequent mental health 
examinations of the individual, including such examina-
tions 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 
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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 re-
port on preliminary mental health screenings of 
members of the Armed Forces. 
(B) MATTERS
INCLUDED.—The report 
under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(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 
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screening, evidenced-based best practices, 
and how to track changes in mental health 
screenings relating to traumatic brain inju-
ries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and 
other conditions. 
(C) COORDINATION.—The National Insti-
tute of Mental Health shall carry out subpara-
graph (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 ex-
perts. 
(2) REPORTS ON EFFICACY OF SCREENINGS.— 
(A) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—Not later 
than one year after the date on which the Sec-
retary 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 pre-
liminary mental health screenings. 
(B) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—Not later 
than one year after the submittal of the report 
under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall submit to Con-
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gress a report on the efficacy of the preliminary 
mental health screenings described in such sub-
paragraph. 
(C) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The reports re-
quired by subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall in-
clude 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 inju-
ries, 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 sec-
tion 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). 
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SEC. 3. REPORT ON EFFICACY OF PHYSICAL EXAMINA-
TIONS 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 para-
graph (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. 
Æ 
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