CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CARE FOR MEMBERS ON ACTIVE DUTY.1

SEC. 702. [10 U.S.C. 1092 note] CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CARE FOR MEMBERS ON ACTIVE DUTY. (a) Plan Required.—(1) Not later than March 31, 2001, the Secretary of Defense shall complete development of a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits, as a permanent part of the Defense Health Program (including the TRICARE program), for all members of the uniformed services who are entitled to care under section 1074(a) of title 10, United States Code. (2) The plan shall provide for the following: (A) Access, at designated military medical treatment facilities, to the scope of chiropractic services as determined by the Secretary, which includes, at a minimum, care for neuro-musculoskeletal conditions typical among military personnel on active duty. (B) A detailed analysis of the projected costs of fully integrating chiropractic health care services into the military health care system. (C) An examination of the proposed military medical treatment facilities at which such services would be provided. (D) An examination of the military readiness requirements for chiropractors who would provide such services. (E) An examination of any other relevant factors that the Secretary considers appropriate. (F) Phased-in implementation of the plan over a 5-year period, beginning on October 1, 2001. (b) Consultation Requirements.—The Secretary of Defense shall consult with the other administering Secretaries described in section 1073 of title 10, United States Code, and the oversight advisory committee established under section 731 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 (Public Law 103–337; 10 U.S.C. 1092 note) regarding the following: (1) The development and implementation of the plan required under subsection (a). (2) Each report that the Secretary is required to submit to Congress regarding the plan. (3) The selection of the military medical treatment facilities at which the chiropractic services described in subsection (a)(2)(A) are to be provided. (c) Continuation of Current Services.—Until the plan required under subsection (a) is implemented, the Secretary shall continue to furnish the same level of chiropractic health care services and benefits under the Defense Health Program that is provided during fiscal year 2000 at military medical treatment facilities that provide such services and benefits. (d) Report Required.—Not later than January 31, 2001, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report on the plan required under subsection (a), together with appropriate appendices and attachments, to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives. (e) GAO Reports.—The Comptroller General shall monitor the development and implementation of the plan required under subsection (a), including the administration of services and benefits under the plan, and periodically submit to the committees referred to in subsection (d) written reports on such development and implementation. * * * * * * *