§1074d. Certain primary and preventive health care services

(a) Services Available.-(1) Female members and former members of the uniformed services entitled to medical care under section 1074 or 1074a of this title shall also be entitled to primary and preventive health care services for women as part of such medical care. The services described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) shall be provided under such procedures and at such intervals as the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe.

(2) Male members and former members of the uniformed services entitled to medical care under section 1074 or 1074a of this title shall also be entitled to preventive health care screening for colon or prostate cancer at such intervals and using such screening methods as the administering Secretaries consider appropriate.

(b) Definition.-In this section, the term "primary and preventive health care services for women" means health care services, including related counseling services, provided to women with respect to the following:

(1) Cervical cancer screening.

(2) Breast cancer screening, including through the use of digital breast tomosynthesis.

(3) Comprehensive obstetrical and gynecological care, including care related to pregnancy and the prevention of pregnancy.

(4) Infertility and sexually transmitted diseases, including prevention.

(5) Menopause, including hormone replacement therapy and counseling regarding the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy.

(6) Physical or psychological conditions arising out of acts of sexual violence.

(7) Gynecological cancers.

(8) Colon cancer screening, at the intervals and using the screening methods prescribed under subsection (a)(2).

(Added Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title VII, §701(a)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1685 ; amended Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VII, §701(a)(1), (2)(A), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2587 ; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VII, §703(a), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2279 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VII, §701, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3686 .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021-Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 116–283 inserted ", including through the use of digital breast tomosynthesis" before period at end.

2006-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–364, §703(a)(1), inserted at end "The services described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) shall be provided under such procedures and at such intervals as the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe."

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–364, §703(a)(2)(A), substituted "Cervical cancer screening" for "Papanicolaou tests (pap smear)".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 109–364, §703(a)(2)(B), substituted "Breast cancer screening" for "Breast examinations and mammography".

1996-Pub. L. 104–201, §701(a)(2)(A), amended catchline generally, substituting "Certain primary and preventive health care services" for "Primary and preventive health care services for women".

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–201, §701(a)(1)(A), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 104–201, §701(a)(1)(B), added par. (8).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Expedited Evaluation and Treatment for Prenatal Surgery Under the TRICARE Program

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VII, §708, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1436 , provided that:

"(a) In General.-The Secretary of Defense shall implement processes and procedures to ensure that a covered beneficiary under the TRICARE program whose pregnancy is complicated with (or suspected of complication with) a fetal condition may elect to receive expedited evaluation, nondirective counseling, and medical treatment from a perinatal or pediatric specialist capable of providing surgical management and intervention in utero.

"(b) Definitions.-In this section, the terms 'covered beneficiary' and 'TRICARE program' have the meanings given those terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code."

Comprehensive Standards and Access to Contraception Counseling for Members of the Armed Forces

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VII, §718, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 868 , provided that:

"(a) Clinical Practice Guidelines.-

"(1) Establishment.-Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 25, 2015], the Secretary of Defense shall establish clinical practice guidelines for health care providers employed by the Department of Defense on standards of care with respect to methods of contraception and counseling on methods of contraception for members of the Armed Forces.

"(2) Updates.-The Secretary shall from time to time update the clinical practice guidelines established under paragraph (1) to incorporate into such guidelines new or updated standards of care with respect to methods of contraception and counseling on methods of contraception.

"(b) Dissemination.-

"(1) Initial dissemination.-As soon as practicable, but commencing not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide for rapid dissemination of the clinical practice guidelines to health care providers described in subsection (a)(1).

"(2) Dissemination of updates.-As soon as practicable after each update to the clinical practice guidelines made by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide for the rapid dissemination of such updated clinical practice guidelines to health care providers described in paragraph (1) of such subsection.

"(3) Protocols.-The Secretary shall disseminate the clinical practice guidelines under paragraph (1) and any updates to such guidelines under paragraph (2) in accordance with administrative protocols developed by the Secretary for such purpose.

"(c) Access to Contraception Counseling.-As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall ensure that women members of the Armed Forces have access to comprehensive counseling on the full range of methods of contraception provided by health care providers described in subsection (a)(1) during health care visits, including visits as follows:

"(1) During predeployment health care visits, including counseling that provides specific information women need regarding the interaction between anticipated deployment conditions and various methods of contraception.

"(2) During health care visits during deployment.

"(3) During annual physical examinations."

Defense Women's Health Research Program

Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title II, §241, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2701 , provided for the continuance of the Defense Women's Health Research Program established pursuant to the authority in section 251 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (Public Law 103–160; 107 Stat. 1606, formerly set out below) and appropriated funds to the program for fiscal year 1995.

Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title II, §251, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1606 , authorized the Secretary of Defense to establish a Defense Women's Health Research Center to serve as the coordinating agent for multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research within the Department of Defense on women's health issues related to service in the Armed Forces and required the Secretary to report to Congress on the decision to establish the Center no later than May 1, 1994.

Report on Provision of Primary and Preventative Health Care Services for Women

Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title VII, §735, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1698 , directed the Secretary of Defense to prepare a report evaluating the provision of primary and preventive health care services through military medical treatment facilities and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services to female members of the uniformed services and female covered beneficiaries eligible for health care under this chapter, and directed the Secretary, as part of such report, to conduct a study to determine the health care needs of female members and female covered beneficiaries, and to submit such report to Congress not later than Oct. 1, 1994, and a revised report not later than Oct. 1, 1999.