Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 5.djvu/564

 112 STAT. 3322 PUBLIC LAW 105-368 —NOV. 11, 1998 Deadline. Reports. Deadline. 38 USC 1710 note. 38 USC 303 note. contracts. notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such condition is attributable to such service."; (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting "or (1)(D)" after "paragraph (1)(C)"; (3) in paragraph (3)— (A) by striking "and" at the end of subparagraph (A); (B) by striking "December 31, 1998." in subparagraph (B) and inserting "December 31, 2001; and"; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: "(C) in the case of care for a veteran described in paragraph (1)(D), after a period of 2 years beginning on the date of the veteran's discharge or release from active military, naval, or air service."; and (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(5) When the Secretary first provides care for veterans using the authority provided in paragraph (1)(D), the Secretary shall establish a system for collection and analysis of information on the general health status and health care utilization patterns of veterans receiving care under that paragraph. Not later than 18 months after first providing care under such authority, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the experience under that authority. The Secretary shall include in the report any recommendations of the Secretary ibr extension of that authority.", (b) IMPLEMENTATION REPORT. —Not later than October 1, 1999, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the Secretary's plan for establishing and operating the system for collection and analysis of information required by paragraph (5) of section 1710(e) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(4). SEC. 103. NATIONAL CENTER ON WARrRELATED ILLNESSES AND POST- DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ISSUES. (a) ASSESSMENT. — The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences, or another appropriate independent organization, under which such entity shall assist in developing a plan for the establishment of a national center or national centers for the study of war-related illnesses and post-deployment health issues. The purposes of such a center may include— (1) carrying out and promoting research regarding the etiologies, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of war-related illnesses and post-deployment health issues; and (2) promoting the development of appropriate health policies, including monitoring, medical recordkeeping, risk communication, and use of new technologies. (b) RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORT. —With respect to such a center, an agreement under this section shall provide for the Academy (or other entity) to— (1) make recommendations regarding: (A) design of an organizational structure or structures, operational scope, staff- ing and resource needs, establishment of appropriate databases, the advantages of single or multiple sites, mechanisms for implementing recommendations on policy, and relationship to academic or scientific entities; (B) the role or roles that relevant

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