PERFORMANCE METRICS AND REPORTS ON WARRIORS IN TRANSITION PROGRAMS OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS.

SEC. 738. PERFORMANCE METRICS AND REPORTS ON WARRIORS IN TRANSITION PROGRAMS OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS.(a) Metrics Required.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish a policy containing uniform performance outcome measurements to be used by each Secretary of a military department in tracking and monitoring members of the Armed Forces in Warriors in Transition programs.(b) Elements.—The policy established under subsection (a) shall identify outcome measurements with respect to the following:(1) Physical health and behavioral health.(2) Rehabilitation.(3) Educational and vocational preparation.(4) Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.(c) Milestones.—In establishing the policy under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall establish metrics and milestones for members in Warriors in Transition programs. Such metrics and milestones shall cover members throughout the course of care and rehabilitation in Warriors in Transitions programs by applying to the following occasions:(1) When the member commences participation in the program.(2) At least once each year the member participates in the program.(3) When the member ceases participation in the program or is transferred to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.(d) Cohort Groups and Parameters.—The policy established under subsection (a)—(1) may differentiate among cohort groups within the population of members in Warriors in Transition programs, as appropriate; and126 STAT. 1821(2) shall include parameters for specific outcome measurements in each element under subsection (b) and each metric and milestone under subsection (c).(e) Reports Required.—(1) Initial report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the policy established under subsection (a), including the outcome measurements for each element under subsection (b) and each metric and milestone under subsection (c).(2) Annual reports.—Not later than February of each year beginning in 2014 and ending in 2018, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the performance of the military departments with respect to the policy established under subsection (a). Each report shall include—(A) an analysis of—(i) data on improvements in the progress of members in Warriors in Transition programs in each specific area identified in the policy;(ii) access to health and rehabilitation services by such members, including average appointment waiting times by specialty;(iii) effectiveness of the programs in assisting in the transition of such members to military duty or civilian life through education and vocational assistance;(iv) any differences in outcomes in Warriors in Transition programs, and the reason for any such differences; and(v) the quantities and effectiveness of medical and nonmedical case managers, legal support and physical evaluation board liaison officers, mental health care providers, and medical evaluation physicians in comparison to the actual number of members requiring such services; and(B) such other results and analyses as the Secretary considers appropriate, including any recommendations for legislation if needed.(f) Warriors in Transition Program Defined.—In this section, the term “Warriors in Transition program” means any major support program of the Armed Forces for members of the Armed Forces with severe wounds, illnesses, or injuries that is intended to provide such members with nonmedical case management service and care coordination services, and includes the programs as follows:(1) Warrior Transition Units and the Wounded Warrior Program of the Army.(2) The Wounded Warrior Safe Harbor program of the Navy.(3) The Wounded Warrior Regiment of the Marine Corps.(4) The Recovery Care Program and the Wounded Warrior programs of the Air Force.(5) The Care Coalition of the United States Special Operations Command.126 STAT. 1822