§ 1720D — Counseling And Treatment For Sexual Trauma

(1) The Secretary shall operate a program under which the Secretary provides counseling and appropriate care and services, to include care for physical health conditions, as appropriate, to former members of the Armed Forces who the Secretary determines require such counseling and care and services to treat a condition, which in the judgment of a health care professional employed by the Department, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the former member of the Armed Forces was serving on duty, regardless of duty status or line of duty determination (as that term is used in section 12323 of title 10). (A) In operating the program required by paragraph (1), the Secretary may, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, provide counseling and care and services to members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) to treat a condition described in that paragraph that was suffered by the member while serving on duty, regardless of duty status or line of duty determination (as that term is used in section 12323 of title 10). (B) A member described in subparagraph (A) shall not be required to obtain a referral before receiving counseling and care and services under this paragraph. (3) In furnishing counseling to an individual under this subsection, the Secretary may provide such counseling pursuant to a contract with a qualified mental health professional if (A) in the judgment of a mental health professional employed by the Department, the receipt of counseling by that individual in facilities of the Department would be clinically inadvisable, or (B) Department facilities are not capable of furnishing such counseling to that individual economically because of geographical inaccessibility. (1) The Secretary shall give priority to the establishment and operation of the program to provide counseling and care and services under subsection (a). In the case of a former member of the Armed Forces eligible for counseling and care and services under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the former member of the Armed Forces is furnished counseling and care and services under this section in a way that is coordinated with the furnishing of such care and services under this chapter. (2) In establishing a program to provide counseling under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (A) provide for appropriate training of mental health professionals and such other health care personnel as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the program effectively; (B) seek to ensure that such counseling is furnished in a setting that is therapeutically appropriate, taking into account the circumstances that resulted in the need for such counseling; and (C) provide referral services to assist former members of the Armed Forces who are not eligible for services under this chapter to obtain those from sources outside the Department. (c) The Secretary shall provide information on the counseling and treatment available under this section. Efforts by the Secretary to provide such information— (1) shall include availability of a toll-free telephone number (commonly referred to as an 800 number); (2) shall ensure that information about the counseling and treatment available under this section— (A) is revised and updated as appropriate; (B) is made available and visibly posted at appropriate facilities of the Department; and (C) is made available through appropriate public information services; and (3) shall include coordination with the Secretary of Defense seeking to ensure that members of the Armed Forces and individuals who are being separated from active military, naval, air, or space service are provided appropriate information about programs, requirements, and procedures for applying for counseling and treatment under this section. (1) The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide graduate medical education, training, certification, and continuing medical education for mental health professionals and other health care professionals who provide counseling, care, and services under subsection (a). (2) In carrying out the program required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that— (A) all mental health professionals and other health care professionals described in such paragraph have been trained in a consistent manner; and (B) training described in such paragraph includes principles of evidence-based treatment and care for sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. (e) Each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report on the counseling, care, and services provided pursuant to this section. Each report shall include data for the year covered by the report with respect to each of the following: (1) The number of mental health professionals, graduate medical education trainees, and primary care providers who have been certified under the program required by subsection (d) and the amount and nature of continuing medical education provided under such program to such professionals, trainees, and providers who are so certified. (2) The number of individuals who received counseling and care and services under subsection (a) from professionals and providers who received training under subsection (d), disaggregated by— (A) former members of the Armed Forces; (B) members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) on active duty; and (C) for each of subparagraphs (A) and (B)— (i) men; and (ii) women. (3) The number of graduate medical education, training, certification, and continuing medical education courses provided by reason of subsection (d). (4) The number of trained full-time equivalent employees required in each facility of the Department to meet the needs of individuals requiring treatment and care for sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. (5) Such recommendations for improvements in the treatment of individuals with sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder as the Secretary considers appropriate, including specific recommendations for individuals specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (2). (6) Such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate. (f) In this section, the term “sexual harassment” means unsolicited verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature which is threatening in character. (g) In this section, the term “former member of the Armed Forces” includes the following: (1) A veteran. (2) An individual described in section 1720I(b) of this title.