Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 3.djvu/319

 PUBLIC LAW 98-528—OCT. 19, 1984

98 STAT. 2691

diplomas as diplomates in psychology from an accrediting authority approved by the Administrator, certified". WAIVER OF MANDATORY REDUCTIONS IN MILITARY RETIRED PAY FOR CERTAIN PHYSICIANS

SEC. 109. Section 4107 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(i) The Administrator may authorize an exception to the restrictions in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 5532 of title 5 if necessary to meet special or emergency employment needs which result from a severe shortage of well-qualified candidates in physician positions which otherwise cannot be readily met.".

38 USC 4107.

POST-TRAUMATIC-STRESS DISORDER

SEC. n o. (a)(1) The Chief Medical Director of the Veterans' Administration may designate special programs within the Department of Medicine and Surgery for the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic-stress disorder (hereinafter in this section referred to as "PTSD"). (2) The Chief Medical Director shall direct (A) that (in addition to providing diagnostic and treatment services for PTSD) Veterans' Administration programs designated under paragraph (1) (hereinafter in this section referred to as "designated PTSD programs") carry out activities to promote the education and training of healthcare personnel (including health-care personnel not working for the Veterans' Administration or the Federal Government) in the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD, and (B) that (when appropriate) the provision of treatment services under such program be coordinated with the provision of readjustment counseling services under section 612A of title 38, United States Code. (b)(1) The Chief Medical Director shall establish in the Department of Medicine and Surgery a Special Committee on Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Special Committee"). The Chief Medical Director shall appoint qualified employees of the Department to serve on the Special Committee. (2) The Special Committee shall assess, and carry out a continuing assessment of, the capacity of the Veterans' Administration to provide diagnostic and treatment services for PTSD to veterans eligible for health care furnished by the Veterans' Administration. (3) The Special Committee shall also advise the Chief Medical Director regarding the development of policies, the provision of guidance, and the coordination of services for the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD (A) in designated PTSD programs, (B) in inpatient psychiatric programs and outpatient mental health programs other than designated PTSD programs, and (C) in readjustment counseling programs of the Veterans' Administration. (4) The Special Committee shall also make recommendations to the Chief Medical Director for guidance with respect to PTSD regarding— (A) appropriate diagnostic and treatment methods; (B) referral for and coordination of followup care; (C) the evaluation of PTSD treatment programs; (D) the conduct of research concerning such diagnosis and treatment (taking into account the provisions of subsection (c));

38 USC 612A note.

Special Committee on Post-TraumaticStress Disorder, establishment.

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