§438 Preventive Health Services Allowance

Summary

Run a test program from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2011, that gives a yearly preventive health payment to some active-duty service members to try to increase use of preventive health care for them and their families. Members must be on active duty more than 30 days and meet medical and dental readiness rules. Each year up to 1,500 members in each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps can get the payment; half of those in each service must have dependents and half must not. The payment is $500 a year for members without dependents and $1,000 a year for members with dependents. The Secretary of Defense will list what services the money can pay for and how often, but at least it will cover common cancer screenings, annual physical and dental checks, weight/BMI checks, and vaccinations. The Department must track the health and test results of participants, judge how useful the testing is, and send reports to Congress by March 31, 2010, and March 31, 2012. The Secretary must write the rules to run the program.