Supporting Eating Disorders Recovery Through Vital Expansion Act or the SERVE Act
This bill provides for inpatient and outpatient treatment of eating disorders under TRICARE for dependents of members of the uniformed services. Dependents are eligible for such care regardless of (1) their age, except with respect to residential service; and (2) whether the eating disorder is their primary or secondary diagnosis.
The bill also requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (with respect to the Coast Guard) to identify, treat, and rehabilitate members of the armed forces who have an eating disorder.
Finally, DOD and the Department of Veterans Affairs must jointly develop, publish, and disseminate clinical practice criteria and guidelines on the identification and treatment of eating disorders.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1309 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1309
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for eating disorders
treatment for members of the Armed Forces and certain dependents of
members and former members of the uniformed services, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 24, 2021
Mr. Moulton (for himself, Mr. Katko, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Deutch, Mr.
Fitzpatrick, Mr. Crow, Ms. Chu, Mr. Courtney, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Ryan,
Mrs. Axne, Mr. Connolly, Miss Rice of New York, Mr. Price of North
Carolina, Mr. Rush, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Scanlon, Ms. Sherrill, Mr. Foster,
Mr. Keating, Ms. Omar, Mr. Cleaver, and Mr. Levin of California)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for eating disorders
treatment for members of the Armed Forces and certain dependents of
members and former members of the uniformed services, and for other
purposes.
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 ``Supporting Eating disorders Recovery
through Vital Expansion Act'' or the ``SERVE Act''.
SEC. 2. EATING DISORDERS TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES AND DEPENDENTS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Eating disorders affect approximately 30,000,000
Americans (or nine percent of the population) during their
lifetime, including individuals from every age, gender, body
size, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
(2) Eating disorders are severe, biologically based, mental
illnesses caused by a complex interaction of genetic,
biological, social, behavioral, and psychological factors.
(3) Eating disorders result in the second highest case
fatality rate of any mental illness, with one death occurring
every 52 minutes as a direct result of an eating disorder due
to serious medical co-morbidities and suicide.
(4) Untreated eating disorders cost the economy of the
United States $64.70 billion annually, with families and
individuals experiencing an economic loss of $23.50 billion
annually.
(5) A study from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance
Branch found that diagnoses of eating disorders among military
personnel increased by 26 percent from 2013 to 2016. Although
accurate estimates are challenging due to underreporting, the
prevalence of eating disorders in the military is two to three
times higher than in the civilian population.
(6) The Defense Health Board found that female members of
the Armed Forces on active duty experience high rates of eating
disorders, which can adversely affect their readiness and
health.
(7) Risk factors for eating disorders in the military
include pressure to maintain weight and fitness standards,
trauma, sexual harassment, weight stigmatization, and post-
traumatic stress disorder.
(8) Family members of members of the Armed Forces have a
higher prevalence of eating disorders than the general
population, with 21 percent of children and 26 percent of
spouses of members of the Armed Forces found at risk of
developing an eating disorder.
(9) Research demonstrates a strong correlation between a
military spouse and their adolescent child's risk for an eating
disorder. Adolescent female military dependents are more likely
to be at risk for an eating disorder if their non-military
parent is at risk for an eating disorder.
(b) Eating Disorders Treatment for Certain Dependents.--Section
1079 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(18) Treatment for eating disorders may be provided in
accordance with subsection (r).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(r)(1) The provision of health care services for an eating
disorder under subsection (a)(18) shall include the following services:
``(A) Inpatient services, including residential services.
``(B) Outpatient services for in-person or telehealth care,
including partial hospitalization services and intensive
outpatient services.
``(2) A dependent may be provided health care services for an
eating disorder under subsection (a)(18) without regard to--
``(A) the age of the dependent, except with respect to
residential services under paragraph (1)(B), which may be
provided only to a dependent who is not eligible for hospital
insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c et seq.); and
``(B) whether the eating disorder is the primary or
secondary diagnosis of the dependent.
``(3) In this section, the term `eating disorder' has the meaning
given the term `feeding and eating disorders' in the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (or successor
edition), published by the American Psychiatric Association.''.
(c) Identification and Treatment of Eating Disorders for Members of
the Armed Forces.--Section 1090 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``The Secretary of Defense'' and inserting
the following:
``(a) Identification and Treatment of Eating Disorders and Drug and
Alcohol Dependence.--The Secretary of Defense'';
(2) by inserting ``have an eating disorder or'' before
``are dependent on drugs or alcohol''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(b) Facilities Available to Individuals With Eating Disorders.--
For purposes of this section, `necessary facilities' described in
subsection (a) shall include, with respect to individuals who have an
eating disorder, facilities that provide the services specified in
section 1079(r)(1) of this title.
``(c) Eating Disorder Defined.--In this section, the term `eating
disorder' has the meaning given that term in section 1079(r)(3) of this
title.''.
(d) Clinical Practice Guidelines and Criteria Relating to Eating
Disorders.--
(1) Guidelines and criteria.--Not later than two years
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly
develop, publish, and disseminate clinical practice guidelines
and criteria for the identification and treatment of eating
disorders. Such guidelines shall be consistent with generally
accepted standards of care.
(2) Consultation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretaries shall consult with, and incorporate into the
guidelines and criteria developed under such subsection the
recommendations and guidelines of, the following:
(A) The Administrator of the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration.
(B) The Director of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
(C) The Director of the National Institute of
Mental Health.
(D) Nonprofit clinical specialty associations and
any other organizations or associations determined
relevant by the Secretaries.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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