ESTABLISHMENT OF ACADEMIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION.

SEC. 734. ESTABLISHMENT OF ACADEMIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION. (a) In General.—Chapter 104 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2113a the following new section: “SEC. 2113b. [10 U.S.C. 2113b] Academic Health System “(a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense may establish an Academic Health System to integrate the health care, health professions education, and health research activities of the military health system, including under this chapter, in the National Capital Region. “(b) Leadership.—(1) The Secretary may appoint employees of the Department of Defense to leadership positions in the Academic Health System established under subsection (a). “(2) Such positions may include responsibilities for management of the health care, health professions education, and health research activities described in subsection (a) and are in addition to similar leadership positions for members of the armed forces. “(c) National Capital Region Defined.—In this section, the term ‘National Capital Region’ means the area, or portion thereof, as determined by the Secretary, in the vicinity of the District of Columbia.” . (b) [10 U.S.C. 2112] Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 104 of such titleis amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2113a the following new item: “2113b. Academic Health System.” .