Healthy Troops Act

Healthy Troops Act - Requires predeployment and postdeployment medical examinations of certain members of the armed forces to include self-administered surveys followed by clinical examinations.

Specifies that predeployment surveys and examinations shall include: (1) the collection of clinical data; (2) the collection of information on current and past physical or mental health conditions that might affect performance; (3) an assessment of mental health; (4) screening for diseases prevalent among the armed forces; and (5) referrals for any conditions needing further treatment.

Specifies that postdeployment surveys and examinations shall include self-reported information about relevant exposures during the period of deployment including combat experience and screening for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study of the effectiveness of self-administered surveys.

[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4346 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4346

To amend title 10, United States Code, to clarify requirements relating 
to predeployment and postdeployment medical exams of certain members of 
                           the Armed Forces.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 12, 2004

    Mr. Bishop of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Skelton, Mr. Evans, Mr. 
   Edwards, and Mr. Murtha) introduced the following bill; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to clarify requirements relating 
to predeployment and postdeployment medical exams of certain members of 
                           the Armed Forces.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Troops Act''.

SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO PREDEPLOYMENT AND 
              POSTDEPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMS OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE 
              ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Clarification of Predeployment and Postdeployment Medical 
Exams.--Subsection (b) of section 1074f of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Elements of System.--(1) The system described in subsection 
(a) shall include the use of predeployment medical examinations and 
postdeployment medical examinations, in accordance with this 
subsection, to accurately record the medical condition of members 
before their deployment and any changes in their medical condition 
during the course of their deployment.
    ``(2) A predeployment medical examination shall consist of a self-
administered survey followed by a clinical examination conducted by 
medical personnel of the Department of Defense. The survey and clinical 
examination shall include--
            ``(A) the collection of clinical data (such as vital signs 
        and the drawing of blood samples);
            ``(B) the collection of information (including information 
        on immunizations) on current and past physical or mental health 
        conditions that might affect the ability of the member to 
        perform duties;
            ``(C) an assessment of mental health;
            ``(D) screening for diseases that are prevalent in members 
        of the armed forces; and
            ``(E) referral to appropriate medical care for any 
        conditions needing further treatment.
    ``(3) A postdeployment medical examination shall consist of a self-
administered survey followed by a clinical examination conducted by 
medical personnel of the Department of Defense. The survey and clinical 
examination--
            ``(A) shall include self-reported information about any 
        relevant exposures during the period of deployment, including 
        witnessing or participating in combat and screening for post-
        traumatic stress disorder; and
            ``(B) shall be conducted when the member is redeployed or 
        otherwise leaves an area in which the system is in operation 
        (or as soon as possible thereafter).''.
    (b) Study.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of the 
effectiveness of self-administered surveys included in predeployment 
and postdeployment medical exams of members of the Armed Forces that 
are carried out as part of the medical tracking system required under 
section 1074f of title 10, United States Code (as amended by subsection 
(a)).
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