[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 194 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 194
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide treatment for eating
disorders for dependents of members of the uniformed services.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 3, 2021
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Tillis, Mrs. Capito, and Ms. Hirono)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide treatment for eating
disorders for dependents of members of the uniformed services.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Eating Disorders Recovery
Through Vital Expansion Act'' or the ``SERVE Act''.
SEC. 2. 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.
SEC. 3. 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.''.
SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF EATING DISORDERS FOR MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--Section 1090 of title 10, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) 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'';
(2) by inserting ``have an eating disorder or'' before
``are dependent on drugs or alcohol'';
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(b) Facilities Available to Individuals With Eating Disorders.--
For purposes of 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
(4) in the section heading, by inserting ``eating disorders
and'' after ``treating''.
(b) 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.''.
SEC. 5. CLINICAL PRACTICE CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES ON THE IDENTIFICATION
AND TREATMENT OF EATING DISORDERS.
(a) 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.
(b) Inclusion of Recommendations and Guidelines.--The criteria and
guidelines developed, published, and disseminated under subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) 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
(2) clinical practice guidelines developed by specialized
nonprofit professional associations.
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