§1071. Purpose of this chapter

The purpose of this chapter is to create and maintain high morale in the uniformed services by providing an improved and uniform program of medical and dental care for members and certain former members of those services, and for their dependents.

(Added Pub. L. 85–861, §1(25)(B), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1445 ; amended Pub. L. 89–614, §2(1), Sept. 30, 1966, 80 Stat. 862 ; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §511(34)(A), (B), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2922 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
1071	37:401.	June 7, 1956, ch. 374, §101, 70 Stat. 250 .

The words "and certain former members" are inserted to reflect the fact that many of the persons entitled to retired pay are former members only. The words "and dental" are inserted to reflect the fact that members and, in certain limited situations, dependents are entitled to dental care under sections 1071–1085 of this title.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1071, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 81 , which stated the purpose of former sections 1071 to 1086 of this title, and provided for their construction, was repealed by Pub. L. 85–861, §36B(5), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1570 , as superseded by the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 which is classified to subchapter I–D (§1973cc et seq.) of chapter 20 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Amendments

1980-Pub. L. 96–513 substituted "Purpose of this chapter" for "Purpose of sections 1071–1087 of this title" in section catchline, and substituted reference to this chapter for reference to sections 1071–1087 of this title in text.

1966-Pub. L. 89–614 substituted "1087" for "1085" in section catchline and text.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1966 Amendment

Section 3 of Pub. L. 89–614 provided that: "The amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1966 Amendment note below] shall become effective January 1, 1967, except that those amendments relating to outpatient care in civilian facilities for spouses and children of members of the uniformed services who are on active duty for a period of more than 30 days shall become effective on October 1, 1966."

Short Title of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VII, §701, Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1108 , provided that: "This title [enacting sections 1103, 2128 to 2130 [now 16201 to 16203], and 6392 of this title, amending sections 533, 591, 1079, 1086, 1251, 2120, 2122, 2123, 2124, 2127, 2172 [now 16302], 3353, 3855, 5600, 8353, and 8855 of this title, section 302 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, and section 460 of Title 50, Appendix, War and National Defense, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1073, 1074, 1079, 1092, 1103, 2121, 2124, 12201, and 16201 of this title, amending provisions set out as notes under sections 1073 and 1101 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under sections 2121 and 2124 of this title] may be cited as the 'Military Health Care Amendments of 1987'."

Short Title of 1966 Amendment

Section 1 of Pub. L. 89–614 provided: "That this Act [enacting sections 1086 and 1087 of this title, amending this section and sections 1072 to 1074, 1076 to 1079, 1082, and 1084 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the 'Military Medical Benefits Amendments of 1966'."

Annual Beneficiary Survey

Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VII, §724, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2440 , as amended by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title VII, §717, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2804 , provided that:

"(a) Survey Required.-The administering Secretaries shall conduct annually a formal survey of persons receiving health care under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, in order to determine the following:

"(1) The availability of health care services to such persons through the health care system provided for under that chapter, the types of services received, and the facilities in which the services were provided.

"(2) The familiarity of such persons with the services available under that system and with the facilities in which such services are provided.

"(3) The health of such persons.

"(4) The level of satisfaction of such persons with that system and the quality of the health care provided through that system.

"(5) Such other matters as the administering Secretaries determine appropriate.

"(b) Exemption.-An annual survey under subsection (a) shall be treated as not a collection of information for the purposes for which such term is defined in section 3502(4) of title 44, United States Code.

"(c) Definition.-For purposes of this section, the term 'administering Secretaries' has the meaning given such term in section 1072(3) of title 10, United States Code."

Comprehensive Study of Military Medical Care System

Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VII, §733, Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1408 , as amended by Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VII, §723, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2440 , directed Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study of the military medical care system, not later than Dec. 15, 1992, to submit to congressional defense committees a detailed accounting on progress of the study, including preliminary results of the study, and not later than Dec. 15, 1993, submit to congressional defense committees a final report on the study.

Identification and Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Dependent Persons in the Armed Forces

Pub. L. 92–129, title V, §501, Sept. 28, 1971, 85 Stat. 361 , which directed Secretary of Defense to devise ways to identify, treat, and rehabilitate drug and alcohol dependent members of the armed forces, to identify, refuse admission to, and refer to civilian treatment facilities such persons seeking entrance to the armed forces, and to report to Congress on and suggest additional legislation concerning these matters, was repealed and restated as sections 978 and 1090 of this title by Pub. L. 97–295, §§1(14)(A), (15)(A), 6(b), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1289 , 1290, 1314.