,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #fdf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #c1 #bjae,mr4 ,portman 7for himself and ,mr4 ,heinrich7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide an individual with a mental health screening before the individual enlists in the ,armed ,forces or is commissioned as an officer in the ,armed ,forces1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,medical ,evaluation ,parity for ,servicemembers ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,preliminary mental health screenings for individuals becoming members of the ,armed ,forces 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #ca of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #ebj;d4 ,preliminary mental health screenings 7a7 ,provision of mental health screening ,before any individual enlists in an armed force or is commissioned as an officer in an armed force1 the ,secretary concerned shall provide the individual with a mental health screening4 7b7 ,use of screening 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall use the results of a mental screening conducted under subsection 7a7 as a baseline for any subsequent mental health examinations of the individual1 including such examinations provided under sections #ajgd;f and #ajgdm of this title4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary may not consider the results of a mental health screening conducted under subsection 7a7 in determining the promotion of a member of the armed forces4 7c7 ,application of privacy laws ,with respect to applicable laws and regulations relating to the privacy of information1 the ,secretary shall treat a mental health screening conducted under subsection 7a7 in the same manner as the medical records of a member of the armed forces4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section #ebj;c the following new item3 #ebj;d4 ,preliminary mental health screenings4 4 7c7 ,reports 7#a7 ,initial report 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,national ,institute of ,mental ,health of the ,national ,institutes of ,health shall submit to ,congress and the ,secretary of ,defense a report on preliminary mental health screenings of members of the ,armed ,forces4 7,b7 ,matters included ,the report under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include the following3 7i7 ,recommendations with respect to establishing a preliminary mental health screening of members of the ,armed ,forces to bring mental health screenings to parity with physical screenings of members4 7ii7 ,recommendations with respect to the composition of the mental health screening1 evidenced-based best practices1 and how to track changes in mental health screenings relating to traumatic brain injuries1 post-traumatic stress disorder1 and other conditions4 7,c7 ,coordination ,the ,national ,institute of ,mental ,health shall carry out subparagraph 7,a7 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the surgeons general of the military departments1 and other relevant experts4 7#b7 ,reports on efficacy of screenings 7,a7 ,secretary of ,defense ,not later than one year after the date on which the ,secretary of ,defense begins providing preliminary mental health screenings under section #ebj;d7a7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the efficacy of such preliminary mental health screenings4 7,b7 ,comptroller ,general ,not later than one year after the submittal of the report under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report on the efficacy of the preliminary mental health screenings described in such subparagraph4 7,c7 ,matters included ,the reports required by subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 shall include the following3 7i7 ,an evaluation of the evidence-based best practices used by the ,secretary in composing and conducting preliminary mental health screenings of members of the ,armed ,forces under such section #ebj;d7a74 7ii7 ,an evaluation of the evidence-based best practices used by the ,secretary in tracking changes in mental health screenings relating to traumatic brain injuries1 post-traumatic stress disorder1 and other conditions among members of the ,armed ,forces4 7d7 ,implementation of preliminary mental health screening ,the ,secretary of ,defense may not provide a preliminary mental health screening under section #ebj;d7a7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 until the ,secretary receives and evaluates the initial report required by subsection 7c77#a74 #c4 ,report on efficacy of physical examinations for certain members of the ,armed ,forces upon separation from active duty 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,defense shall submit to ,congress a report on the efficacy of the mental health components of the physical examinations provided under paragraph 7#e7 of section #aade7;a7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 to members of the ,armed ,forces who are separated from active duty as described in paragraph 7#b7 of such section4 7b7 ,evaluation of effectiveness ,the report required by subsection 7a7 shall include an evaluation of the effectiveness of the physical examinations described in such subsection in-- 7#a7 identifying members of the ,armed ,forces with traumatic brain injury1 post-traumatic stress disorder1 and other mental health conditions2 and 7#b7 ensuring that health care is provided for such members4