§438 Preventive Health Services Allowance

Summary

Run a test from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011 to see if giving an annual preventive health payment gets service members and their families to use more preventive care. Active-duty members serving more than 30 days who meet their service’s medical and dental readiness rules can be chosen. Each year up to 1,500 members in each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps may get the payment. In each service, half of those chosen must be without dependents and half must be with dependents. Payments are $500 per year for members without dependents and $1,000 per year for members with dependents. The Secretary of Defense will list which preventive services and how often they can be used. At minimum this must include colorectal, breast, cervical, and prostate screening; an annual physical; an annual dental check; weight/body mass checks; and vaccinations. The program must make these services reasonably available nearby. The Defense Department must track participants’ health and test results, study whether the tests asked for are useful, and report to Congress by March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2012 with findings and recommendations. The Secretary of Defense must write rules to run the program.