Provision of health care services at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

(a) Assessment The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the Army, shall conduct an assessment of the adequacy of health care services available to covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. (b) Elements The assessment required by subsection (a) shall include the following elements: (1) An evaluation of the ability of the local area to provide adequate access to care for the covered beneficiary population surrounding Fort Leonard Wood. (2) An evaluation of potential impacts to access and quality of care for such beneficiaries if the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital were to be realigned, downgraded, or have its scope of services reduced. (3) An evaluation of the ability to establish additional partnerships with the Department of Veterans Affairs for the provision of health care service at the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital. (4) Such other matters as the Secretary considers relevant for determining the continued viability of the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital. (c) Prohibition The Secretary of Defense may not close, downgrade, or reduce the scope of care offered by the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital unless— (1) the Secretary— (A) completes the assessment required by subsection (a) and delivers such assessment to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and (B) certifies to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives that any such changes would not reduce or degrade the health care services available to covered beneficiaries and the local community; and (2) the Chief of Staff of the Army certifies to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives that there will be no degradation of medical readiness of units assigned to Fort Leonard Wood as a result of any changes to the status of the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital.