LICENSURE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN TRICARE PROGRAM.

SEC. 716. [10 U.S.C. 1073 note] LICENSURE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN TRICARE PROGRAM. (a) Qualifications for TRICARE Certified Mental Health Counselors During Transition Period.—During the period preceding January 1, 2021, for purposes of determining whether a mental health care professional is eligible for reimbursement under the TRICARE program as a TRICARE certified mental health counselor, an individual who holds a masters degree or doctoral degree in counseling from a program that is accredited by a covered institution shall be treated as holding such degree from a mental health counseling program or clinical mental health counseling program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (b) Definitions.—In this section: (1) The term “covered institution” means any of the following: (A) The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC-WASC). (B) The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). (C) The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). (D) The New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE). (E) The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges. (F) The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WASC-SCUC). (G) The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). (H) The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). (I) The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). (J) The Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC). (2) The term “TRICARE program” has the meaning given that term in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.