,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #efig ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #bh1 #bjbj,mr4 ,takano introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to direct the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to furnish emergent mental health care to certain individuals1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veterans' ,acute ,crisis ,care for ,emergent ,suicide ,symptoms ,act of #bjbj or the ,veterans' ,,access ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs provision of emergent mental health care 7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ag of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #agbj;,j4 ,emergent mental health care 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall furnish emergent mental health care to an eligible individual under this section if the individual seeks such care-- 7,a7 pursuant to a recommendation the individual received from the ,veterans ,crisis ,line or a licensed health care professional2 or 7,b7 in an emergency situation1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,emergent mental health care furnished under this section may be furnished at a ,department medical facility or at a non-,department facility1 as determined appropriate by the ,secretary or by a licensed health care professional4 7b7 ,eligibility ,for purposes of this section1 an eligible individual is any of the following3 7#a7 ,a veteran4 7#b7 ,an individual who is enrolled in the health care system established by section #agje of this title4 7#c7 ,an individual who-- 7,a7 is a former member of the ,armed ,forces1 including the reserve components2 7,b7 while serving in the active military1 naval1 or air service1 was discharged or released therefrom under a condition other than honorable2 7,c7 is not enrolled in the health care system established by section #agje of this title2 and 7,d7 served in the ,armed ,forces for a period of more than #ij cumulative days4 7c7 ,duration of care 7#a7 ,emergent mental health care furnished under this section may be furnished-- 7,a7 in the case of inpatient or residential care1 for a period not to exceed #cj days2 or 7,b7 in the case of outpatient care1 for a period not to exceed #ij days4 7#b7 ,if1 upon the expiration of the period referred to in subparagraph 7,a7 of paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary determines that the eligible individual to whom care is furnished is not stable1 the ,secretary may extend such period as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7d7 ,outreach requirements ,during any period when an eligible individual is receiving emergent mental health care under this section1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 ensure that1 in the case of an individual referred by the ,veterans ,crisis ,line1 the ,veterans ,crisis ,line notifies the ,suicide ,prevention ,coordinator and the ,office of ,community ,care1 as appropriate1 at the nearest ,department facility2 7#b7 determine the eligibility of the individual for other programs and benefits under the laws administered by the ,secretary2 and 7#c7 make referrals for follow-on care1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7e7 ,prohibition on charge 7#a7 ,notwithstanding section #aghd of this title1 if the ,secretary furnishes emergent mental health care to an eligible individual under this section1 the ,secretary may not charge the individual for such care4 7#b7 ,if the ,secretary furnishes such care to an eligible individual at a non-,department facility1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 provide for reimbursement of such facility for the reasonable value of such care2 and 7,b7 ensure that such facility1 or any health care provider working at such facility1 does not charge the individual for the care4 7#c7 ,in the case of an eligible individual who receives emergent mental health care under this section and who is entitled to care 7or payment of the expenses of care7 under a health-plan contract1 the ,secretary may recover or collect charges for such care under such contract4 7#d7 ,section #agbe of this title does not apply to any payment for emergent mental health care furnished under this section4 7f7 ,annual report ,not less frequently than once each year1 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 emergent mental health care furnished under this section4 ,each such report shall include1 for the year covered by the report-- 7#a7 the number of individuals who received emergent mental health care under this section2 and 7#b7 the total cost of furnishing emergent mental health care under this section4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term emergent mental health care means emergency stabilization care provided to an individual who-- 7,a7 presents at a ,department medical facility or non-,department facility with an emergent mental health need1 including an acute suicidal crisis2 or 7,b7 a licensed health care professional determines presents an imminent danger to the individual's self or to others4 7#b7 ,the term health-plan contract has the meaning given such term in section #agbi7;i77#a7 of this title1 except that such term includes-- 7,a7 an insurance program described in section #ahaa of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie;c7 or established by section #ahca of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie;j72 7,b7 a ,state plan for medical assistance approved under title ,,xix of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq472 7,c7 a workers' compensation law or plan described in subparagraph 7,a7 of subsection 7a77#b7 of such section2 and 7,d7 a program1 plan1 or policy under a law described in subparagraph 7,b7 or 7,c7 of such subsection4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relation to section #agbj;,i the following new item3 #agbj;,j4 ,emergent mental health care4 4 7c7 ,effective date ,emergent mental health care shall be furnished under section #agbj;,j of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 beginning on the date that is #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #c4 ,eligibility of certain former members of the ,armed ,forces for ,department of ,veterans ,affairs mental and behavioral health care 7a7 ,in general ,subsection 7b7 of section #agbj;,i of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 by striking subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b72 and 7,b7 by striking that is not honorable but not-- and inserting other than honorable22 and 7#b7 by striking paragraph 7#d7 and inserting the following new paragraph 7#d73 7#d7 served in the ,armed ,forces for a period of more than #ij cumulative days4 4 7b7 ,additional reporting requirements ,subsection 7f77#b7 of such section is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,c7 as subparagraph 7,d72 7#b7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,b7 the following new subparagraph 7,c73 7,c7 ,the total cost of furnishing mental and behavioral healthcare services under this section4 4