COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON PAIN MANAGEMENT BY THE MILITARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

SEC. 711. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON PAIN MANAGEMENT BY THE MILITARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.(a) Comprehensive Policy Required.—Not later than March 31, 2011, the Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement a comprehensive policy on pain management by the military health care system.(b) Scope of Policy.—The policy required by subsection (a) shall cover each of the following:(1) The management of acute and chronic pain.(2) The standard of care for pain management to be used throughout the Department of Defense.(3) The consistent application of pain assessments throughout the Department of Defense.123 STAT. 2379(4) The assurance of prompt and appropriate pain care treatment and management by the Department when medically necessary.(5) Programs of research related to acute and chronic pain, including pain attributable to central and peripheral nervous system damage characteristic of injuries incurred in modern warfare, brain injuries, and chronic migraine headache.(6) Programs of pain care education and training for health care personnel of the Department.(7) Programs of patient education for members suffering from acute or chronic pain and their families.(c) Updates.—The Secretary shall revise the policy required by subsection (a) on a periodic basis in accordance with experience and evolving best practice guidelines.(d) Annual Report.—(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the commencement of the implementation of the policy required by subsection (a), and on October 1 each year thereafter through 2018, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the policy.(2) Elements.—Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:(A) A description of the policy implemented under subsection (a), and any revisions to such policy under subsection (c).(B) A description of the performance measures used to determine the effectiveness of the policy in improving pain care for beneficiaries enrolled in the military health care system.(C) An assessment of the adequacy of Department pain management services based on a current survey of patients managed in Department clinics.(D) An assessment of the research projects of the Department relevant to the treatment of the types of acute and chronic pain suffered by members of the Armed Forces and their families.(E) An assessment of the training provided to Department health care personnel with respect to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute and chronic pain.(F) An assessment of the pain care education programs of the Department.(G) An assessment of the dissemination of information on pain management to beneficiaries enrolled in the military health care system.