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’ Af-
fairs, 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. 
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 ‘‘Servicemembers’ Tele-
medicine and E–Health Portability Act of 2011’’ or the 
‘‘STEP Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs need to renew and improve ef-
forts to reach out to rural America, which has less 
access to care; 
(2) behavioral health services for active duty 
members of the Armed Forces, members of the re-
serve components, members of the National Guard, 
and veterans need to be more easily and readily ac-
cessible; and 
(3) medical records and records of deployment 
need a ‘‘warm transition’’ and better collaboration 
between the Department of Defense and the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF STATE LICENSURE EXCEPTION FOR 
CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1094(d) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘at any location’’ before 
‘‘in any State’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘regardless’’ and all that 
follows through the end and inserting ‘‘regard-
less of where such health-care professional or 
the patient are located, so long as the practice 
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is within the scope of the authorized Federal 
duties.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘member of 
the armed forces’’ and inserting ‘‘member of the 
armed forces, civilian employee of the Department of 
Defense, personal services contractor under section 
1091 of this title, or other health-care professional 
credentialed and privileged at a Federal health care 
institution or location specially designated by the 
Secretary for this purpose’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, 
in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
shall submit to Congress a report on the plans to develop 
and expand programs to use new Internet and communica-
tion technologies for improved access to care and re-
sources, including telemedicine, telehealth care services, 
and telebehavioral health programs that ensure patient 
privacy. 
(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
prescribe regulations to carry out the amendments made 
by this Act. 
Æ 
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