[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 203 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.203
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the sixth day of January, two thousand and fifteen
An Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct
of annual evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention
programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to require a pilot
program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the
Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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This Act may be cited as the ``Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for
American Veterans Act'' or the ``Clay Hunt SAV Act''.

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PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Evaluations.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``Sec. 1709B. Evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention
programs
``(a) Evaluations.--(1) Not less frequently than once during each
period specified in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall provide for the
conduct of an evaluation of the mental health care and suicide
prevention programs carried out under the laws administered by the
Secretary.
``(2) Each evaluation conducted under paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) use metrics that are common among and useful for
practitioners in the field of mental health care and suicide
prevention;
``(B) identify the most effective mental health care and
suicide prevention programs conducted by the Secretary, including
such programs conducted at a Center of Excellence;
``(C) identify the cost-effectiveness of each program
identified under subparagraph (B);
``(D) measure the satisfaction of patients with respect to the
care provided under each such program; and
``(E) propose best practices for caring for individuals who
suffer from mental health disorders or are at risk of suicide,
including such practices conducted or suggested by other
departments or agencies of the Federal Government, including the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
``(3) The periods specified in this paragraph are the following:
``(A) The period beginning on the date on which the Secretary
awards the contract under paragraph (4) and ending on September 30,
2018.
``(B) Each fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 2018.
``(4) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this section, the Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract with an
independent third party unaffiliated with the Department of Veterans
Affairs to conduct evaluations under paragraph (1).
``(5) The independent third party that is awarded the contract
under paragraph (4) shall submit to the Secretary each evaluation
conducted under paragraph (1).
``(b) Annual Submission.--Not later than December 1, 2018, and each
year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the House of Representatives a report that contains the following:
``(1) The most recent evaluations submitted to the Secretary
under subsection (a)(5) that the Secretary has not previously
submitted to such Committees.
``(2) Any recommendations the Secretary considers
appropriate.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning
of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 1709A the following new item:
``1709B. Evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention
programs.''.
(b) Interim Reports.--Not later than September 30 of each of 2016
and 2017, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the
independent third party awarded a contract by the Secretary pursuant to
section 1709B(a)(4) of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a)(1), shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the mental health care and suicide
prevention programs carried out under the laws administered by the
Secretary that includes, with respect to each such program, the
following:
(1) A description of the program.
(2) The number of veterans served by the program.
(3) The budget of the program.
(4) The number of full-time equivalent employees assigned to
the program.
(5) Whether veterans may repeat participation in the program or
participate in the program in addition to other similar programs.
(6) Any study results or research published regarding the
efficacy of the program.
(7) Any other information the Secretary determines appropriate.

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REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
(a) In General.--Using funds made available to the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to publish the Internet websites of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, the Secretary shall survey the existing Internet
websites and information resources of the Department to publish an
Internet website that serves as a centralized source to provide
veterans with information regarding all of the mental health care
services provided by the Secretary.
(b) Elements.--The Internet website published under subsection (a)
shall provide to veterans information regarding all of the mental
health care services available in the Veteran Integrated Service
Network that the veteran is seeking such services, including, with
respect to each medical center, Vet Center (as defined in section 1712A
of title 38, United States Code), and community-based outpatient center
in the Veterans Integrated Service Network--
(1) the name and contact information of each social work
office;
(2) the name and contact information of each mental health
clinic;
(3) a list of appropriate staff; and
(4) any other information the Secretary determines appropriate.
(c) Updated Information.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
information described in subsection (b) that is published on the
Internet website under subsection (a) is updated not less than once
every 90 days.
(d) Outreach.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall
ensure that the outreach conducted under section 1720F(i) of title 38,
United States Code, includes information regarding the Internet website
published under subsection (a).

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PSYCHIATRISTS OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry
out a pilot program to repay loans of individuals described in
subsection (b) that--
(1) were used by such individuals to finance education relating
to psychiatric medicine, including education leading to--
(A) a degree of doctor of medicine; or
(B) a degree of doctor of osteopathy; and
(2) were obtained from any of the following:
(A) A governmental entity.
(B) A private financial institution.
(C) A school.
(D) Any other authorized entity as determined by the
Secretary.
(b) Eligible Individuals.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an individual
eligible for participation in the pilot program is an individual
who--
(A) either--
(i) is licensed or eligible for licensure to practice
psychiatric medicine in the Veterans Health Administration
of the Department of Veterans Affairs; or
(ii) is enrolled in the final year of a residency
program leading to a specialty qualification in psychiatric
medicine that is approved by the Accreditation Council for
Graduate Medical Education; and
(B) demonstrates a commitment to a long-term career as a
psychiatrist in the Veterans Health Administration, as
determined by the Secretary.
(2) Prohibition on simultaneous eligibility.--An individual who
is participating in any other program of the Federal Government
that repays the educational loans of the individual is not eligible
to participate in the pilot program.
(c) Selection.--The Secretary shall select not less than 10
individuals described in subsection (b) to participate in the pilot
program for each year in which the Secretary carries out the pilot
program.
(d) Period of Obligated Service.--The Secretary shall enter into an
agreement with each individual selected under subsection (c) in which
such individual agrees to serve a period of 2 or more years of
obligated service for the Veterans Health Administration in the field
of psychiatric medicine, as determined by the Secretary.
(e) Loan Repayments.--
(1) Amounts.--Subject to paragraph (2), a loan repayment under
this section may consist of payment of the principal, interest, and
related expenses of a loan obtained by an individual who is
participating in the pilot program for all educational expenses
(including tuition, fees, books, and laboratory expenses) of such
individual relating to education described in subsection (a)(1).
(2) Limit.--For each year of obligated service that an
individual who is participating in the pilot program agrees to
serve under subsection (d), the Secretary may pay not more than
$30,000 in loan repayment on behalf of such individual.
(f) Breach.--
(1) Liability.--An individual who participates in the pilot
program and fails to satisfy the period of obligated service under
subsection (d) shall be liable to the United States, in lieu of
such obligated service, for the amount that has been paid or is
payable to or on behalf of the individual under the pilot program,
reduced by the proportion that the number of days served for
completion of the period of obligated service bears to the total
number of days in the period of obligated service of such
individual.
(2) Repayment period.--Any amount of damages that the United
States is entitled to recover under this subsection shall be paid
to the United States not later than 1 year after the date of the
breach of the agreement.
(g) Report.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 2 years after the date on
which the pilot program under subsection (a) commences, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the pilot program.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) The number of individuals who participated in the pilot
program, including the number of new hires.
(B) The locations in which such individuals were employed
by the Department, including how many such locations were rural
or urban locations.
(C) An assessment of the quality of the work performed by
such individuals in the course of such employment, including
the performance reviews of such individuals.
(D) The number of psychiatrists the Secretary determines is
needed by the Department in the future.
(3) Final report.--Not later than 90 days before the date on
which the pilot program terminates under subsection (i), the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives an update to the report submitted under paragraph
(1) and any recommendations that the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(h) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to
carry out this section, including standards for qualified loans and
authorized payees and other terms and conditions for the making of loan
repayments.
(i) Termination.--The authority to carry out the pilot program
shall expire on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the
Secretary commences the pilot program.

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(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish
a pilot program to assist veterans transitioning from serving on active
duty and to improve the access of veterans to mental health services.
(b) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program
under subsection (a) at not less than five Veterans Integrated Service
Networks that have a large population of veterans who--
(1) served in the reserve components of the Armed Forces; or
(2) are transitioning into communities with an established
population of veterans after having recently separated from the
Armed Forces.
(c) Functions.--The pilot program at each Veterans Integrated
Service Network described in subsection (b) shall include the
following:
(1) A community oriented veteran peer support network, carried
out in partnership with an appropriate entity with experience in
peer support programs, that--
(A) establishes peer support training guidelines;
(B) develops a network of veteran peer support counselors
to meet the demands of the communities in the Veterans
Integrated Service Network;
(C) conducts training of veteran peer support counselors;
(D) with respect to one medical center selected by the
Secretary in each such Veterans Integrated Service Network,
has--
(i) a designated peer support specialist who acts as a
liaison to the community oriented veteran peer network; and
(ii) a certified mental health professional designated
as the community oriented veteran peer network mentor; and
(E) is readily available to veterans, including pursuant to
the Veterans Integrated Service Network cooperating and working
with State and local governments and appropriate entities.
(2) A community outreach team for each medical center selected
by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1)(D) that--
(A) assists veterans transitioning into communities;
(B) establishes a veteran transition advisory group to
facilitate outreach activities;
(C) includes the participation of appropriate community
organizations, State and local governments, colleges and
universities, chambers of commerce and other local business
organizations, and organizations that provide legal aid or
advice; and
(D) coordinates with the Veterans Integrated Service
Network regarding the Veterans Integrated Service Network
carrying out an annual mental health summit to assess the
status of veteran mental health care in the community and to
develop new or innovative means to provide mental health
services to veterans.
(d) Reports.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 18 months after the date on
which the pilot program under subsection (a) commences, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the pilot program. With respect to each
Veterans Integrated Service Network described in subsection (b),
the report shall include--
(A) a full description of the peer support model
implemented under the pilot program, participation data, and
data pertaining to past and current mental health related
hospitalizations and fatalities;
(B) recommendations on implementing peer support networks
throughout the Department;
(C) whether the mental health resources made available
under the pilot program for members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces is effective; and
(D) a full description of the activities and effectiveness
of community outreach coordinating teams under the pilot
program, including partnerships that have been established with
appropriate entities.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 90 days before the date on
which the pilot program terminates under subsection (e), the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives an update to the report submitted under paragraph
(1).
(e) Construction.--This section may not be construed to authorize
the Secretary to hire additional employees of the Department to carry
out the pilot program under subsection (a).
(f) Termination.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out the
pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is
3 years after the date on which the pilot program commences.

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OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND NON-PROFIT MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) Collaboration.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may
collaborate with non-profit mental health organizations to prevent
suicide among veterans as follows:
(1) To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of suicide
prevention efforts carried out by the Secretary and non-profit
mental health organizations.
(2) To assist non-profit mental health organizations with the
suicide prevention efforts of such organizations through the use of
the expertise of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(3) To jointly carry out suicide prevention efforts.
(b) Exchange of Resources.--In carrying out any collaboration under
subsection (a), the Secretary and any non-profit mental health
organization with which the Secretary is collaborating under such
subsection shall exchange training sessions and best practices to help
with the suicide prevention efforts of the Department and such
organization.
(c) Director of Suicide Prevention Coordination.--The Secretary
shall select within the Department a Director of Suicide Prevention
Coordination to undertake any collaboration with non-profit mental
health organizations under this section or any other provision of law.

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VETERANS OF COMBAT SERVICE DURING CERTAIN PERIODS OF HOSTILITIES AND
WAR.
Paragraph (3) of section 1710(e) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
``(3) In the case of care for a veteran described in paragraph
(1)(D), hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care may be
provided under or by virtue of subsection (a)(2)(F) only during the
following periods:
``(A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), with respect to a
veteran described in paragraph (1)(D) who is discharged or released
from the active military, naval, or air service after January 27,
2003, the five-year period beginning on the date of such discharge
or release.
``(B) With respect to a veteran described in paragraph (1)(D)
who is discharged or released from the active military, naval, or
air service after January 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2011, but
did not enroll to receive such hospital care, medical services, or
nursing home care pursuant to such paragraph during the five-year
period described in subparagraph (A), the one-year period beginning
on the date of the enactment of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention
for American Veterans Act.
``(C) With respect to a veteran described in paragraph (1)(D)
who is discharged or released from the active military, naval, or
air service on or before January 27, 2003, and did not enroll in
the patient enrollment system under section 1705 of this title on
or before such date, the three-year period beginning on January 27,
2008.''.

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No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and this Act and such
amendments shall be carried out using amounts otherwise made available
for such purposes.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.

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Clay Hunt SAV Act — HR. 203

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