(a) Requirement
The Secretary of the Army shall carry out a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of different health care assessment methods for members of the Army serving on active duty, as compared to the periodic health assessment of the Army.
(b) Locations
The Secretary shall—
carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) at Fort Hood, Texas; and
select at least one more installation of the Army at which to carry out the pilot program.
(c) Participant selection
The Secretary shall select not fewer than 100 members of the Army to participate in the pilot program under subsection (a). Such members may not be in a high-risk population, as determined by the Secretary.
(e) Health care assessments
In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide members of the Army participating in the pilot program with the following instead of the periodic health assessment:
An in-person physical examination.
Blood work that includes comprehensive metabolic panel and complete blood count conducted by qualified medical personnel.
Any other test or evaluation as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(f) Baseline
The Secretary shall use health care assessments provided to a member of the Army under the pilot program under subsection (a) as a baseline for the purposes of ongoing regular monitoring of the member.
(g) Duration
The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program for a two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, but the Secretary may extend such period.
(h) Report
Not later than 180 days after the date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) concludes, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the pilot program, including findings relating to—
health care outcomes;
satisfaction of members of the Army; and
any recommendations for broader implementation.