Review of disclosure requirements under processes and forms relating to health care provider credentialing and privileging of Department of Defense

(a) Review Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall review all processes and forms relating to health care provider credentialing and privileging of covered applicants to— (1) identify questions, required disclosures, or other information required to be provided by the applicant that asks or requires the applicant to disclose mental, behavioral, psychological, or other related health conditions of the applicant, including requirements contained in— (A) applications for credentialing, peer reference, or competency assessment; and (B) employee manuals, guidance, and policies of the Department of Defense governing the requirements for credentialing, privileging, or employment of health care providers; (2) review and compare credentialing, peer reference, and competency assessment forms for health care providers across the military departments and the Defense Health Agency, including a review of— (A) which forms require disclosure of mental, behavioral, psychological, or other related health conditions; and (B) whether such disclosure of mental, behavioral, psychological, or other related health conditions include past and current diagnoses and treatment. (b) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report containing the following: (1) The findings of the review require under subsection (a). (2) A detailed plan outlining steps the Secretary has taken or will take, including a timeline for completion of such steps, to update the processes and forms reviewed under such subsection to refrain from requiring disclosures of mental, behavioral, psychological, or other related health conditions when there is no current impairment, including an identification of the steps the Secretary will take to engage advocates outside the Department of Defense who have subject matter expertise. (c) Covered applicant defined In this section, the term covered applicant means an applicant for a position as a health care provider who— (1) is required to go through a credentialing and privileging process; and (2) provides care— (A) at a military medical treatment facility or other clinic of the Department of Defense; or (B) through the civilian network of the TRICARE program (as defined in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code).

(a) Review Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall review all processes and forms relating to health care provider credentialing and privileging of covered applicants to— (1) identify questions, required disclosures, or other information required to be provided by the applicant that asks or requires the applicant to disclose mental, behavioral, psychological, or other related health conditions of the applicant, including requirements contained in— (A) applications for credentialing, peer reference, or competency assessment; and (B) employee manuals, guidance, and policies of the Department of Defense governing the requirements for credentialing, privileging, or employment of health care providers; (2) review and compare credentialing, peer reference, and competency assessment forms for health care providers across the military departments and the Defense Health Agency, including a review of— (A) which forms require disclosure of mental, behavioral, psychological, or other related health conditions; and (B) whether such disclosure of mental, behavioral, psychological, or other related health conditions include past and current diagnoses and treatment. (b) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report containing the following: (1) The findings of the review require under subsection (a). (2) A detailed plan outlining steps the Secretary has taken or will take, including a timeline for completion of such steps, to update the processes and forms reviewed under such subsection to refrain from requiring disclosures of mental, behavioral, psychological, or other related health conditions when there is no current impairment, including an identification of the steps the Secretary will take to engage advocates outside the Department of Defense who have subject matter expertise. (c) Covered applicant defined In this section, the term covered applicant means an applicant for a position as a health care provider who— (1) is required to go through a credentialing and privileging process; and (2) provides care— (A) at a military medical treatment facility or other clinic of the Department of Defense; or (B) through the civilian network of the TRICARE program (as defined in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code).