12 2 STA T . 1 96PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 1 8 1 —J A N .28 , 2008 (4)Theac ce s s to a nd need f o r treat m ent fac il ities foc u sin g on the gender - and ethnic grou p -specific mental health care needs of mem b ers of the A rmed F orces . ( 5 ) The need for further clinical research on the gender- and ethnic group-specific needs of members of the Armed Forces w ho ser v ed in a combat z one. (c) REPORT . —N ot later than 90 da y s after the date of the enactment of this Act , the S ecretary of D efense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the review re q uired by subsection (a). SEC.71 7. LI CE N SE DM EN TA L H EALTH C OU NSELO R S AND THE TRICARE P RO G RAM. (a) RE GULA T I O NS .—The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to establish criteria that licensed or certified mental health counselors shall meet in order to be able to independently provide care to TR IC AR E beneficiaries and receive payment under the TRICARE program for such services. The criteria shall include requirements for education level, licensure, certification, and clinical e x perience as considered appropriate by the Secretary. (b) STU DY RE Q UIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall enter into a contract with the Institute of M edicine of the National Academy of Sciences, or another similarly qualified independent academic medical organization, for the purpose of— ( 1 ) conducting an independent study of the credentials, preparation, and training of individuals practicing as licensed mental health counselors
and ( 2 )ma k ing recommendations for permitting licensed mental health counselors to practice independently under the TRICARE program. (c) ELE M ENTS O F STUDY.— (1) EDU C ATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—The study required by subsection (b) shall provide for an assessment of the educational requirements and curricula relevant to mental health practice for licensed mental health counselors, including types of degrees recognized, certification standards for graduate programs for such profession, and recognition of undergraduate coursework for completion of graduate degree requirements. (2) L ICENSING REQUIREMENTS.—The study required by sub- section (b) shall provide for an assessment of State licensing requirements for licensed mental health counselors, including for each level of licensure if a State issues more than one type of license for the profession. The assessment shall examine requirements in the areas of education, training, examination, continuing education, and ethical standards, and shall include an evaluation of the extent to which States authorize members of the licensed mental health counselor profession to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. ( 3 ) CLINICAL E X PERIENCE REQUIREMENTS.—The study required by subsection (b) shall provide for an analysis of the requirements for clinical experience for a licensed mental health counselor to be recognized under regulations for the TRICARE program, and recommendations, if any, for standard- ization or ad j ustment of such requirements. (4) INDEPENDENT PRACTICE UNDER OT H ER FEDERAL PRO- GRAMS.—The study required by subsection (b) shall provide for an assessment of the extent to which licensed mental health 10USC 10 73note.
�
