Behavioral Neurology Fellowship Feasibility Report

Summary#

This bill directs the Director of the Defense Health Agency to send Congress a report, within 270 days after the law is enacted, on whether it is feasible to start a pilot behavioral neurology fellowship program. The fellowship would offer training for clinicians who treat members of the Armed Forces and veterans with traumatic brain injuries, with emphasis on the link between behavior and brain injury. The required report must assess whether the pilot could meet the bill’s listed requirements and suggest possible locations.

The bill text sets several program requirements: the pilot would select two individuals for a one-year clinical fellowship; eligible fellows must hold an MD or DO from an LCME-accredited medical school and have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in neurology or psychiatry; board certification is not required to enter; the program should allow fellows, after completion, to sit for board certification in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry offered by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties; and the fellowship would be accredited. The bill was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

What it means for you#

• This bill asks for a study and does not itself create a fellowship program. No training spots or new services are created by the bill text alone.
• Service members and veterans would not see immediate changes from this bill; it could lead to a pilot program later if the report supports it and Congress or the Defense Health Agency acts on the findings.
• Clinicians with neurology or psychiatry training might be eligible for a future one-year fellowship if a pilot is later established.

Expenses#

No publicly available information about costs or funding is included in the bill text or metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.