,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ejei ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #aj1 #bjad ,mr4 ,walz 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,miller of ,florida1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,mr4 ,barber1 ,mr4 ,benishek1 ,mr4 ,braley of ,iowa1 ,mr4 ,fattah1 ,mr4 ,hastings of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,johnson of ,ohio1 ,ms4 ,kuster1 ,mr4 ,mc,nerney1 ,mr4 ,murphy of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,stivers1 ,mrs4 ,walorski1 ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,mr4 ,daines1 ,mrs4 ,kirkpatrick1 and ,mr4 ,rooney7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,defense and 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 ,defense and the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 to review the terms or characterization of the discharge or separation of certain individuals from the ,armed ,forces1 to require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the ,veterans ,health ,administration of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,clay ,hunt ,suicide ,prevention for ,american ,veterans ,act or the ,clay ,hunt ,,sav ,act4 #b4 ,evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs and ,department of ,defense 7a7 ,evaluations 7#a7 ,in general ,not less frequently than once each year1 the ,secretary concerned shall provide for the conduct of an evaluation of the mental health care and suicide prevention programs carried out under the laws administered by such ,secretary4 7#b7 ,elements ,each evaluation conducted under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 use metrics that are common among and useful for practitioners in the field of mental health care and suicide prevention2 7,b7 identify the most effective mental health care and suicide prevention programs conducted by the ,secretary concerned1 including such programs conducted at a ,center of ,excellence2 7,c7 identify the cost-effectiveness of each programs identified under subparagraph 7,b72 and 7,d7 propose best practices for caring for individuals who suffer from mental health disorders or are at risk of suicide4 7#c7 ,third party ,each evaluation conducted under paragraph 7#a7 shall be conducted by an independent third party unaffiliated with the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs and the ,department of ,defense4 ,such third party shall submit to the ,secretary concerned each such evaluation as appropriate4 7#d7 ,submission ,the ,secretary concerned shall annually submit to the ,committees on ,armed ,services and the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate a report that contains the most recent evaluation submitted to the ,secretary under paragraph 7#c74 7b7 ,secretary concerned defined ,in this section1 the term ,secretary concerned means-- 7#a7 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs with respect to matters concerning the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 and 7#b7 the ,secretary of ,defense with respect to matters concerning the ,department of ,defense4 #c4 ,review of characterization or terms of discharge from the ,armed ,forces of individuals with mental health disorders alleged to affect terms of discharge 7a7 ,in general ,section #aeec7;d7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#c7 7,a7 ,in addition to the requirements of paragraph 7#a7 and 7#b71 in the case of a former member described in subparagraph 7,b71 the ,board shall-- 7i7 review medical evidence of the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs or a civilian health care provider that is presented by the former member2 and 7ii7 review the case with a presumption of administrative irregularity and place the burden on the ,secretary concerned to prove1 by a preponderance of the evidence1 that no error or injustice occurred4 7,b7 ,a former member described in this subparagraph is a former member described in paragraph 7#a7 or a former member whose application for relief is based in whole or in part on matters relating to post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury as supporting rationale or as justification for priority consideration whose post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury is related to combat or military sexual trauma1 as determined by the ,secretary concerned4 4 #d4 ,publication of ,internet website to provide information regarding mental health care services 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall 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 ,secretary4 7b7 ,elements ,the ,internet website published under subsection 7a7 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 services1 including1 with respect to each medical center and community-based outpatient center in the ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network-- 7#a7 the name and contact information of each social work office2 7#b7 the name and contact information of each mental health clinic2 7#c7 a list of appropriate staff2 and 7#d7 any other information the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7c7 ,updated information ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the information described in subsection 7b7 that is published on the ,internet website under subsection 7a7 is updated not less than once every #ij days4 7d7 ,outreach ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall ensure that the outreach conducted under section #agbj;,f7i7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 includes information regarding the ,internet website published under subsection 7a74 #e4 ,improvements to health care matters 7a7 ,reserve components and ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and the ,secretary of ,defense1 in consultation with the ,chief of the ,national ,guard ,bureau1 shall enter into formal strategic relationships between the ,joint ,forces ,headquarters of each ,state regional commands of the reserve components and the ,veterans ,service ,integrated ,network1 medical facilities of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and other local offices of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs located in the ,state with respect to facilitating-- 7#a7 the mental health referrals of members of the reserve components who have a service-connected disability and are being discharged or released from the ,armed ,forces2 7#b7 timely behavioral health services for such members2 7#c7 communication when such members are at risk for behavioral health reasons2 and 7#d7 the transfer of documentation for line of duty and fitness for duty determinations4 7b7 ,,gao report on transition of care 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,april #a1 #bjae1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to the congressional defense committees 7as defined in section #aja7;a77#af7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code7 and the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate a report that assesses the transition of care for post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury4 7#b7 ,matters included ,the report under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,the programs1 policies1 and regulations that affect the transition of care1 particularly with respect to individuals who are taking or have been prescribed antidepressants1 stimulants1 antipsychotics1 mood stabilizers1 anxiolytic1 depressants1 or hallucinogens4 7,b7 ,upon transitioning to care furnished by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 the extent to which the pharmaceutical treatment plan of an individual changes1 and the factors determining such changes4 7,c7 ,the extent to which the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs have worked together to identify and apply best pharmaceutical treatment practices4 7,d7 ,a description of the off-formulary waiver process of the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 and the extent to which the process is applied efficiently at the treatment level4 7,e7 ,the benefits and challenges of combining the formularies across the ,department of ,defense and the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7,f7 ,any other issues that the ,comptroller ,general determines appropriate4 7#c7 ,transition of care defined ,in this subsection1 the term transition of care means the transition of an individual from receiving treatment furnished by the ,secretary of ,defense to treatment furnished by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4 #f4 ,pilot program for repayment of educational loans for certain psychiatrists of ,veterans ,health ,administration 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall carry out a pilot program to repay loans of individuals described in subsection 7b7 that-- 7#a7 were used by such individuals to finance education relating to psychiatric medicine1 including education leading to-- 7,a7 an undergraduate degree2 7,b7 a degree of doctor of medicine2 or 7,c7 a degree of doctor of osteopathy2 and 7#b7 were obtained from any of the following3 7,a7 ,a governmental entity4 7,b7 ,a private financial institution4 7,c7 ,a school4 7,d7 ,any other authorized entity as determined by the ,secretary4 7b7 ,eligible individuals 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 an individual eligible for participation in the pilot program is an individual who-- 7,a7 either-- 7i7 is licensed or eligible for licensure to practice psychiatric medicine in the ,veterans ,health ,administration of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 or 7ii7 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 ,education2 and 7,b7 demonstrates a commitment to a long-term career as a psychiatrist in the ,veterans ,health ,administration1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,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 program4 7c7 ,selection ,the ,secretary shall select not less than #aj individuals described in subsection 7b7 to participate in the pilot program for each year in which the ,secretary carries out the pilot program4 7d7 ,period of obligated service ,the ,secretary shall enter into an agreement with each individual selected under subsection 7c7 in which such individual agrees to serve a period of obligated service for the ,veterans ,health ,administration in the field of psychiatric medicine1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7e7 ,loan ,repayments 7#a7 ,amounts ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 a loan repayment under this section may consist of payment of the principal1 interest1 and related expenses of a loan obtained by an individual who is participating in the pilot program for all educational expenses 7including tuition1 fees1 books1 and laboratory expenses7 of such individual relating to education described in subsection 7a77#a74 7#b7 ,limit ,for each year of obligated service that an individual who is participating in the pilot program agrees to serve under subsection 7d71 the ,secretary may pay not more than #fj1jjj in loan repayment on behalf of such individual4 7f7 ,breach 7#a7 ,liability ,an individual who participates in the pilot program and fails to satisfy the period of obligated service under subsection 7d7 shall be liable to the ,united ,states1 in lieu of such obligated service1 for the amount that has been paid or is payable to or on behalf of the individual under the pilot program1 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 individual4 7#b7 ,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 one year after the date of the breach of the agreement4 7g7 ,report 7#a7 ,initial report ,not later than two years after the date on which the pilot program under subsection 7a7 commences1 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 program4 7#b7 ,elements ,the report required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,the number of individuals who participated in the pilot program4 7,b7 ,the locations in which such individuals were employed by the ,department1 including how many such locations were rural or urban locations4 7,c7 ,an assessment of the quality of the work performed by such individuals in the course of such employment4 7,d7 ,the number of psychiatrists the ,secretary determines is needed by the ,department in the future4 7#c7 ,final report ,not later than #ij days after the date on which the pilot program terminates under subsection 7i71 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 7#a74 7h7 ,regulations ,the ,secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section1 including standards for qualified loans and authorized payees and other terms and conditions for the making of loan repayments4 7i7 ,termination ,the authority to carry out the pilot program shall expire on the date that is three years after the date on which the ,secretary commences the pilot program4 #g4 ,public-private contributions for additional educational assistance for graduate degrees relating to mental health 7a7 ,in general ,section #ccag of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7f7 ,graduate degree in mental health 7#a7 ,as part of the ,yellow ,ribbon ,g4,i4 ,education ,enhancement ,program carried out under this section1 the ,secretary shall carry out a program under which the ,secretary and a college or university that enters into an agreement described in subsection 7a7 may make contributions pursuant to this subsection with respect to the full cost of established charges of a veteran described in paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,a veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who-- 7,a7 is eligible for the program under subsection 7a72 7,b7 holds a bachelor's degree2 7,c7 is pursuing an advanced degree in mental health at an institution of higher learning that participates in the program under subsection 7a72 and 7,d7 is pursuing such a degree with the intention of seeking employment as a mental health professional in the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7#c7 ,in determining the intention of a veteran under paragraph 7#b77;,d71 the ,secretary may not require the veteran to enter into any binding agreement with respect to such intention4 7#d7 ,in determining the amount of matching contributions pursuant to subsection 7d77#a7 for assistance provided under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 substitute #ff percent for up to #ej percent2 and 7,b7 substitute #cd percent for an equal percentage4 7#e7 ,in accordance with section #gdjf of this title1 the ,secretary may establish residencies and internships at medical facilities of the ,department for veterans participating in the program under subsection 7a74 7#f7 ,if the ,secretary employs a veteran who participates in the program under subsection 7a7 as a mental health professional following such participation1 to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall ensure that-- 7,a7 the veteran is employed in a rural area or an area that the ,secretary determines is in greatest need of mental health professionals2 and 7,b7 the veteran is employed in a position that directly relates to the treatment of veterans rather than a research position4 7#g7 ,in this subsection1 the term advanced degree in mental health means a master's degree1 doctoral degree1 or other graduate or professional degree that the ,secretary determines would lead an individual to be employed as any of the following positions3 7,a7 ,psychiatrist4 7,b7 ,psychologist4 7,c7 ,mental health nurse4 7,d7 ,nurse assistant4 7,e7 ,physician assistant4 7,f7 ,pharmacist4 7,g7 ,social worker4 7,h7 ,licensed professional mental health counselor4 7,i7 ,licensed marriage and family therapist4 7,j7 ,addiction therapist4 7,k7 ,occupational therapist4 7,l7 ,recreational therapist4 7,m7 ,vocational rehabilitation therapist4 7,n7 ,health science specialist4 7,o7 ,health technician4 7,p7 ,any other position the ,secretary determines appropriate4 4 7b7 ,prohibition on transfer of eligibility ,section #ccai7;h7 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#h7 ,prohibition on certain contributions ,entitlement transferred under this section may not include eligibility for contributions under section #ccag7;f7 of this title4 4 7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to a quarter1 semester1 or term that begins on or after ,july #a1 #bjae4 #h4 ,review of staffing requirements for ,state ,directors of ,psychological ,health ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,defense shall submit to the ,committees on ,armed ,services and the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate a zero-based review1 conducted in coordination with the ,chief of the ,national ,guard ,bureau1 of the staffing requirements for individual ,state ,national ,guard ,commands with respect to ,directors of ,psychological ,health4 #i4 ,pilot program on community outreach 7a7 ,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 services4 7b7 ,locations ,the ,secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection 7a7 at not less than five ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,networks that have a large population of veterans who-- 7#a7 served in the reserve components of the ,armed ,forces2 or 7#b7 are transitioning into communities with an established population of veterans after having recently separated from the ,armed ,forces4 7c7 ,functions ,the pilot program at each ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network described in subsection 7b7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,a community oriented veteran peer support network1 carried out in partnership with an appropriate entity with experience in peer support programs1 that-- 7,a7 establishes peer support training guidelines2 7,b7 develops a network of veteran peer support counselors to meet the demands of the communities in the ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network2 7,c7 conducts training of veteran peer support counselors2 7,d7 with respect to each medical center in such ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network1 has-- 7i7 a designated peer support specialist who acts as a liaison to the community oriented veteran peer network2 and 7ii7 a certified mental health professional designated as the community oriented veteran peer network mentor2 and 7,e7 is readily available to veterans1 including pursuant to the ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network cooperating and working with ,state and local governments and appropriate entities4 7#b7 ,a community outreach team for each medical center in such ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network that-- 7,a7 assists veterans transitioning into communities2 7,b7 establishes a veteran transition advisory group to facilitate outreach activities2 7,c7 includes the participation of appropriate community organizations1 ,state and local governments1 colleges and universities1 and organizations that provide legal aid or advice2 and 7,d7 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 veterans4 7d7 ,reports 7#a7 ,initial report ,not later than #ah months after the date on which the pilot program under subsection 7a7 commences1 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 program4 ,with respect to each ,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network described in subsection 7b71 the report shall include-- 7,a7 a full description of the peer support model implemented under the pilot program1 participation data1 and data pertaining to past and current mental health related hospitalizations and fatalities2 7,b7 recommendations on implementing peer support networks throughout the ,department2 7,c7 whether the mental health resources made available under the pilot program for members of the reserve components of the ,armed ,forces is effective2 and 7,d7 a full description of the activities and effectiveness of community outreach coordinating teams under the pilot program1 including partnerships that have been established with appropriate entities4 7#b7 ,final report ,not later than #ij days after the date on which the pilot program terminates under subsection 7e71 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 7#a74 7e7 ,termination ,the authority of the ,secretary to carry out the pilot program under subsection 7a7 shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date on which the pilot program commences4