HR 4305 113th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Health information and medical records Medical tests and diagnostic methods Mental health Military medicine Military personnel and dependents Right of privacy

MEPS Act

Introduced: March 26, 2014 Introduced by: Thompson, Glenn Republican · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jul 1, 2014

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Apr 10, 2014

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3148)

Apr 9, 2014

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3065)

Mar 26, 2014

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Mar 26, 2014

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2014 or the MEPS Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to: (1) provide an individual with a mental health assessment before such individual enlists or is commissioned as an officer in an Armed Force, and (2) use such results as a baseline for any subsequent mental health examinations.

Prohibits the Secretary from considering the results of such assessment in determining the assignment or promotion of a member of the Armed Forces.

Directs the Secretary to treat such assessment in the same manner as medical records with respect to laws and regulations relating to the privacy of information.

Requires the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to submit to Congress and the Secretary of Defense (DOD) a report on preliminary mental health assessments of members of the Armed Forces, including recommendations regarding: (1) establishing a preliminary mental health assessment of members of the Armed Forces to establish parity with physical screenings; and (2) the composition of the mental health assessment, best practices, and how to track assessment changes relating to traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions.

What's happening now July 1, 2014

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Committees of jurisdiction 2