(a) Pilot program
Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military department shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary may—
appoint individuals to primary care management positions at a remote military medical treatment facility selected under subsection (d); and
provide incentives for highly qualified applicants to such positions.
(b) Duration
Each Secretary of a military department shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) for a period not to exceed five years.
(c) Personnel authorities
In carrying out subsection (a), for the purposes of hiring qualified candidates for the pilot program, each Secretary of a military department may use the authorities provided under—
(d) Remote military medical treatment facilities
(1) Selection
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military department shall select not fewer than five remote military medical treatment facilities at which to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a).
(2) Notification
Each Secretary of a military department shall notify the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate of each remote military medical treatment facility selected under paragraph (1).
(e) Reimbursement
(1) Requirement
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Director of the Defense Health Agency shall reimburse the relevant Secretary of a military department for the actual, reasonable, and allocable cost of the salary and expenses (including with respect to travel, training, equipment, and facility support) of any individual appointed to a primary care management position under the pilot program under subsection (a) during the period in which the employee is employed in the position for which the employee was so appointed (regardless of whether such period exceeds the duration of the pilot program). The Director and the Secretary shall ensure that such costs are tracked using a detailed work breakdown structure to ensure granular tracking and financial accountability.
(2) Memorandum of understanding
The Director and each Secretary of a military department shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to carry out reimbursements under paragraph (1). Such memorandum shall specify—
the scope of services provided by the individuals appointed to a primary care management position;
the allowable cost categories;
billing and accounting procedures;
quality and performance metrics; and
dispute resolution procedures.
(f) Reports
Not later than 18 months after the date on which each Secretary of a military department commences the pilot program under subsection (a), and annually thereafter during the life of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the pilot program, including with respect to the feasibility of carrying out the pilot program on a long-term basis.
(g) Definitions
In this section:
The term primary care management position means a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, registered nurse, mental health nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurse, or medical assistant.
The term remote military medical treatment facility means a military medical treatment facility (as defined in section 1073c of title 10, United States Code) for which medical personnel assigned to the facility may reside at a location that is either—
not more than 50 miles from the military medical facility; or
a distance that on average takes at least one hour to travel by car.