[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 190 (Thursday, October 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7503-S7504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 4022. Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr.
Reed and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle A of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 704. TREATMENT FOR EATING DISORDERS FOR MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES AND DEPENDENTS OF MEMBERS OF THE
UNIFORMED SERVICES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Eating disorders affect approximately 30,000,000
individuals in the United States, or nine percent of the
population, during their lifetime, including individuals from
every age, gender, body size, race, ethnicity, and
socioeconomic status.
(2) Eating disorders are severe, biologically based mental
illnesses caused by a complex interaction of genetic,
biological, social, behavioral, and psychological factors.
(3) Eating disorders result in the second highest case
fatality rate of any psychiatric illness, with one death
every 52 minutes as a direct result of an eating disorder due
to serious medical comorbidities and suicide.
(4) Untreated eating disorders cost the economy of the
United States $64,700,000,000 annually, with individuals and
their families experiencing an economic loss of
$23,500,000,000 annually.
(5) A study from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance
Branch found that diagnoses of eating disorders among
military personnel increased by 26 percent from 2013 to 2016.
(6) Although accurate estimates are challenging due to
underreporting, the prevalence of eating disorders among
members of the Armed Forces is two to three times higher than
in the civilian population.
(7) The Defense Health Board found that women members of
the Armed Forces on active duty experience high rates of
eating disorders, which can adversely affect the readiness
and health of such members.
(8) Risk factors for eating disorders among members of the
Armed Forces include pressure to maintain weight and fitness
standards, trauma, sexual harassment, weight stigmatization,
and post-traumatic stress disorder.
(9) Family members of members of the Armed Forces have a
higher prevalence of eating disorders than the general
population, with 21 percent of children and 26 percent of
spouses of members of the Armed Forces found to be at risk of
developing an eating disorder.
(10) Research demonstrates a strong correlation in the risk
of developing an eating disorder between a military spouse
and their adolescent child. An adolescent female dependent of
a member of the Armed Forces is more likely to be at risk for
an eating disorder if their nonmilitary parent is at risk for
an eating disorder.
(b) Treatment for Eating Disorders for Dependents of
Members of the Uniformed Services.--Section 1079 of title 10,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(18) Treatment for an eating disorder may be provided in
accordance with subsection (r).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(r)(1) The provision of health care services for an
eating disorder under subsection (a)(18) shall include
treatment at facilities providing the following services:
``(A) Inpatient services, including residential services.
``(B) Outpatient services for in-person and telehealth
care, including--
``(i) Partial hospitalization services; and
``(ii) Intensive outpatient services.
``(2) A dependent may be provided health care services for
an eating disorder under subsection (a)(18) without regard to
the age of the dependent, except with respect to residential
services under paragraph (1)(A), which may be provided only
to a dependent who is not eligible for hospital insurance
benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c et seq.).
``(3) In this section, the term `eating disorder' has the
meaning given the term `feeding and eating disorders' in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th
Edition (or successor edition), published by the American
Psychiatric Association.''.
(c) Identification and Treatment of Eating Disorders for
Members of the Armed Forces.--
(1) In general.--Section 1090 of title 10, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary of Defense'' and inserting
the following:
``(a) Identification and Treatment of Eating Disorders and
Drug and Alcohol Dependence.--The Secretary of Defense'';
(B) by inserting ``have an eating disorder or'' before
``are dependent on drugs or alcohol'';
(C) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(b) Facilities Available to Individuals With Eating
Disorders.--For purposes of
[[Page S7504]]
this section, necessary facilities described in subsection
(a) shall include the facilities described in section
1079(r)(1) of this title.
``(c) Eating Disorder Defined.--In this section, the term
`eating disorder' has the meaning given that term in section
1079(r)(3) of this title.''; and
(D) in the section heading, by inserting ``eating disorders
and'' after ``treating''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 55 of such title is amended by striking
the item relating to section 1090 and inserting the following
new item:
``1090. Identifying and treating eating disorders and drug and alcohol
dependence.''.
(d) Clinical Practice Criteria and Guidelines on the
Identification and Treatment of Eating Disorders.--
(1) In general.-- Not later than two years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with
specialized stakeholders, shall jointly develop, publish, and
disseminate clinical practice criteria and guidelines on the
identification and treatment of eating disorders.
(2) Inclusion of recommendations and guidelines.--The
criteria and guidelines developed, published, and
disseminated under paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) recommendations and guidelines established by, and any
guidance from, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and the National Institute of Mental Health; and
(B) clinical practice guidelines developed by specialized
nonprofit professional associations.
(e) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made
by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2022.
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