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The text of the bill below is as of Mar 11, 2015 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. Donnelly (for himself and Mr. Boozman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly conduct a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of expanding the use by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs of physician assistants specializing in psychiatric medicine, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Frontline Mental Health Provider Training Act .
Pilot program on expansion of use of physician assistants to provide mental health care to members of the Armed Forces and veterans
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as the Secretaries ) shall jointly commence the conduct of a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of expanding the use by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs of physician assistants specializing in psychiatric medicine at medical facilities of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to meet the increasing demand for mental health care providers at such facilities through the use of an 18-month psychiatry fellowship program for physician assistants.
Department of Defense
The Secretary of Defense shall carry out the pilot program at not less than three military medical treatment facilities, of which—
not less than one shall be a military medical treatment facility under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army;
not less than one shall be a military medical treatment facility under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy; and
not less than one shall be a military medical treatment facility under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Air Force.
Department of Veterans Affairs
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the pilot program at not less than three medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Except as provided in paragraph (2), an individual eligible for participation in the pilot program is an individual who—
has successfully graduated with a masters degree in physician assistant studies from an accredited physician assistant program;
is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants;
has a valid license, certification, and registration necessary to practice medicine; and
does not have any pending challenge, investigation, revocation, restriction, disciplinary action, suspension, reprimand, probation, denial, or withdrawal with respect to any license, certification, or registration described in subparagraph (C).
Department of Defense
With respect to the conduct of the pilot program at a military medical treatment facility, an individual eligible for participation in the pilot program is an individual who—
qualifies as an eligible individual under paragraph (1);
is a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces; and
meets the requirements necessary to be deployed as such an officer throughout the world.
Selection of individuals
Each of the Secretaries shall select not less than 12 individuals described in subsection (c) to participate in the pilot program for each 18-month psychiatry fellowship program carried out under subsection (e).
Each of the Secretaries shall equally distribute the individuals selected under paragraph (1) among the locations at which the pilot program is to be carried out by such Secretary.
Psychiatry fellowship program
In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretaries shall establish an 18-month psychiatry fellowship program for physician assistants that meets the training model for acuity, mixture, and volume established for psychiatric residency programs.
Training and education
The psychiatric fellowship program established under paragraph (1) shall provide to eligible individuals who are selected for the program the following:
Training that is equivalent to training received during a psychiatric residency with respect to guidelines, objectives, and milestones.
Education leading to a clinical doctorate of science in psychiatry that addresses the following:
Neurology, including child, adolescent, and geriatric neurology.