12 2 STA T .4 114 PUBLIC LA W 11 0–387—O CT. 10 , 2008 (b)TEAMOFCLIN I C IAN SW I THAP P R OPRIATE EX PERTISE D EFINE D.—Inthis s ec ti o n , the te rm‘ ‘te a mo f c l inicians w ith a p pro - priate e x pertise ’ ’ means a team consistin g of the following
( 1 ) Clinicians an d health professionals with expertise in treatment of s u bstance use disorders and mental health dis- orders who act in coordination and collaboration with each other. ( 2 ) S uch other professionals as the Secretar y considers appropriate for the pro v ision of treatment to veterans for sub- stance use and mental health disorders. SEC.105 . PILOT P R O G R AMF ORI N TERNET -B ASE D S U BSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT FOR V ETERANS OF OPERATION IRA Q I FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. (a) F INDIN G S.—Congress ma k es the following findings: (1) Stigma associated with seeking treatment for mental health disorders has been demonstrated to prevent some vet- erans from seeking such treatment at a medical facility oper- ated by the Department of Defense or the Department of V et- erans Affairs. (2) There is a significant incidence among veterans of post- deployment mental health problems, especially among members of a reserve component who return as veterans to civilian life. ( 3 ) Computer-based self-guided training has been dem- onstrated to be an effective strategy for supplementing the care of psychological conditions. ( 4 ) Y ounger veterans, especially those who served in O per- ation Enduring Freedom or Operation Ira q i Freedom, are com- fortable with and proficient at computer-based technology. ( 5 ) Veterans living in rural areas may find access to treat- ment for substance use disorder limited. ( 6 ) Self-assessment and treatment options for substance use disorders through an Internet website may reduce stigma and provides additional access for individuals seeking care and treatment for such disorders. (b) IN G ENERAL.— N ot later than October 1, 2 0 0 9 , the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing veterans who seek treat- ment for substance use disorders access to a computer-based self- assessment, education, and specified treatment program through a secure Internet website operated by the Secretary. P articipation in the pilot program shall be available on a voluntary basis for those veterans who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. (c) ELEMENTS OF PILOT PROGRAM.— (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that— (A) access to the Internet website and the programs available on the website by a veteran (or family member) does not involuntarily generate an identifiable medical record of that access by that veteran in any medical data- base maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs
( B ) the Internet website is accessible from remote loca- tions, especially rural areas; and (C) the Internet website includes a self-assessment tool for substance use disorders, self-guided treatment and Deadlin e .38USC1720A n ot e.
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