JOINT TRAUMA SYSTEM.

SEC. 707. [10 U.S.C. 1071 note] JOINT TRAUMA SYSTEM. (a) Plan.— (1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate an implementation plan to establish a Joint Trauma System within the Defense Health Agency that promotes improved trauma care to members of the Armed Forces and other individuals who are eligible to be treated for trauma at a military medical treatment facility. (2) Implementation.—The Secretary shall implement the plan under paragraph (1) after a 90-day period has elapsed following the date on which the Comptroller General of the United States is required to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate the review under subsection (c). In implementing such plan, the Secretary shall take into account any recommendation made by the Comptroller General under such review. (b) Elements.—The Joint Trauma System described in subsection (a)(1) shall include the following elements: (1) Serve as the reference body for all trauma care provided across the military health system. (2) Establish standards of care for trauma services provided at military medical treatment facilities. (3) Coordinate the translation of research from the centers of excellence of the Department of Defense into standards of clinical trauma care. (4) Coordinate the incorporation of lessons learned from the trauma education and training partnerships pursuant to section 708 into clinical practice. (c) Review.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate the implementation plan under subsection (a)(1), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to such committees a review of such plan to determine if each element under subsection (b) is included in such plan. (d) Review of Military Trauma System.—In establishing a Joint Trauma System, the Secretary of Defense may seek to enter into an agreement with a non-governmental entity with subject matter experts to— (1) conduct a system-wide review of the military trauma system, including a comprehensive review of combat casualty care and wartime trauma systems during the period beginning on January 1, 2001, and ending on the date of the review, including an assessment of lessons learned to improve combat casualty care in future conflicts; and (2) make publicly available a report containing such review and recommendations to establish a comprehensive trauma system for the Armed Forces.