#aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 ,r4 
#hdj  ,,an ,,act  ,to am5d title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to direct !        
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to provide
 *ild c>e assi/ance to vet]ans receiv+  
c]ta9 m$ical s]vices provid$ by !       
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  #a4     
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,vet]ans' ,access to ,*ild ,c>e ,act4   
#b4 ,*ild c>e assi/ance = vet]ans       
receiv+ m5tal heal? c>e & o!r int5sive  
heal? c>e s]vices provid$ by ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9 g5]al      
,sub*apt] ,,iii ( *apt] #ag ( title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+  
at ! end ! foll[+ new section3          
#agcj;,d4 ,*ild c>e assi/ance = vet]ans 
receiv+ m5tal heal? c>e & o!r int5sive  
heal? c>e s]vices  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject
 to subsection 7c71 ! ,secret>y %all    
provide *ild c>e assi/ance to an        
eligible vet]an = any p]iod t ! vet]an--
 7#a7 receives cov]$ heal? c>e s]vices  
at a facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 su* z a    
community-bas$ outpati5t cl9ic2 &  7#b7 

is requir$ to travel to & return f su*  
facility = ! receipt ( su* heal? c>e    
s]vices4  7b7 ,*ild ,c>e ,assi/ance     
7#a7 ,subject to subsection 7c71 *ild   
c>e assi/ance provid$ "u ?is section may
 include any ( ! foll[+3  7,a7 ,a /ip5d 
= ! paym5t ( *ild c>e (f]$ by a lic5s$  
*ild c>e c5t] or ext5d$ day program     
7ei!r directly or ?r\gh a v\*] program7 
:i* %all be1 to ! ext5t practicable1    
model$ aft] ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs ,*ild ,c>e ,subsidy ,program   
e/abli%$ pursuant to section #eij (     
title #dj4  7,b7 ,direct provision (    
*ild c>e at an on-site facility ( !     
,dep>tm5t4  7,c7 ,a paym5t made directly
 to a private *ild c>e ag5cy4  7,d7 ,a  
collaboration ) a facility or program ( 
ano!r ,f$]al dep>tm5t or ag5cy4  7,e7   
,su* o!r =m ( assi/ance z ! ,secret>y   
consid]s appropriate4  7#b7 ,9 ! case t 
*ild c>e assi/ance "u ?is section is    
provid$ z a /ip5d "u p>agraph 7#a77;,a71
 su* /ip5d %all cov] ! full co/ ( su*   
*ild c>e4  7#c7 ,! ,secret>y %all       

e/abli% crit]ia = provid+ *ild c>e      
assi/ance "u p>agraph 7#a7 design$ to   
ensure reasonable access to su*         
assi/ance = vet]ans :o exp]i5ce any     
unusual or excessive burd5 to access+   
*ild c>e s]vices1 includ+ excessive     
driv+ di/ances1 geographic *all5ges1 &  
o!r environm5tal factors t imp$e su*    
access4  7c7 ,condition on receipt (    
assi/ance  7#a7 ,! ,secret>y may n      
provide any *ild c>e assi/ance "u ?is   
section to an eligible vet]an :o is     
receiv+ cov]$ heal? c>e s]vices f !     
,dep>tm5t unless t eligible vet]an      
actively p>ticipates 9 su* s]vices4     
7#b7 ,= purposes ( ?is subsection1 ! t]m
 actively p>ticipates means1 ) respect  
to cov]$ heal? c>e s]vices-- 7,a7 engag+
 9 transit to & f appo9tm5ts = su*      
s]vices2  7,b7 att5d+ appo9tm5ts = su*  
s]vices2 &  7,c7 su* o!r activities z ! 
,secret>y det]m9es appropriate4  7d7    
,annual report  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!        
,secret>y %all submit to ,congress an   
annual report on ! provision ( *ild c>e 

assi/ance "u ?is section4 ,ea* su*      
report %all include1 = ! ye> cov]$ by ! 
report1 ea* ( ! foll[+ = ea* ( !        
categories ( *ild c>e assi/ance specifi$
 9 p>agraph 7#b73 7,a7 ,! av]age am\nt (
 "t requir$ by ! ,dep>tm5t to provide a 
paym5t = *ild c>e assi/ance4  7,b7 ,!   
av]age co/ ( *ild c>e assi/ance4  7,c7  
,! ext5t to :i* ! ,dep>tm5t has a       
backlog ( unprocess$ claims = *ild c>e  
assi/ance4  7,d7 ,! numb] ( ,dep>tm5t   
employees :o work$ on ! process+ (      
claims = *ild c>e assi/ance4  7,e7 ,!   
av]age am\nt ( "t requir$ by su* an     
employee to process su* a claim4  7,f7  
,! numb] ( improp] or duplicative       
paym5ts ( *ild c>e assi/ance made4  7,g7
 ,! recomm5dations ( ! ,secret>y =      
improv+ ! process+ ( claims = *ild c>e  
assi/ance4  7#b7 ,categories ( *ild c>e 
assi/ance ,! categories ( *ild c>e      
assi/ance specifi$ 9 ?is p>agraph are   
ea* ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,direct /ip5ds4    
7,b7 ,paym5ts made directly to a *ild   
c>e ag5cies4  7,c7 ,/ip5ds provid$ ?r\gh

 a v\*] program4  7e7 ,outrea* ,!       
,secret>y %all p]=m outrea* to in=m     
eligible vet]ans ( ! *ild c>e assi/ance 
available "u ?is section4  7f7          
,requirem5ts2 rule ( con/ruction  7#a7  
,9 accordance ) p>agraph 7#b71 a *ild   
c>e c5t]1 *ild c>e ag5cy1 or any o!r    
*ild c>e provid] describ$ 9 subsection  
7b7 may n provide *ild c>e "u ?is       
section if ! c5t]1 ag5cy1 or provid]    
employs an individual :o has be5        
convict$ ( a sex crime1 an (f5se involv+
 a *ild victim1 a viol5t crime1 a drug  
felony1 or o!r (f5se ! ,secret>y        
det]m9es appropriate4  7#b7 ,no?+ 9     
p>agraph 7#a7 %all sup]s$e1 nullify1 or 
dim9i% any ,f$]al or ,/ate law 7includ+ 
any local law or ord9ance71 contract1   
agreem5t1 policy1 plan1 practice1 or o!r
 matt] t e/abli%es /&>ds & requirem5ts =
 employees ( *ild c>e c5t]s1 *ild c>e   
ag5cies1 or o!r *ild c>e provid]s       
describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 t are m       
re/rictive ?an ! requirem5ts specifi$ 9 
p>agraph 7#a74  7g7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is  

section3  7#a7 ,! t]m eligible vet]an   
means a vet]an :o-- 7,a7 is a prim>y    
c>etak] ( a *ild or *ildr52 &  7,b7 is--
 7i7 receiv+ cov]$ heal? c>e s]vices f !
 ,dep>tm5t2 or  7ii7 9 ne$ ( cov]$ heal?
 c>e s]vices1 & b = lack ( *ild c>e     
s]vices1 w\ld receive su* cov]$ heal?   
c>e s]vices f ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#b7 ,! t]m 
cov]$ heal? c>e s]vices means--  7,a7   
regul> m5tal heal? c>e s]vices1 includ+ 
telem5tal heal? s]vices furni%$ by !    
,dep>tm5t1 includ+ heal? c>e s]vices    
provid$ z "p ( readju/m5t c\nsel+2  7,b7
 int5sive m5tal heal? c>e s]vices1      
includ+ telem5tal heal? s]vices furni%$ 
by ! ,dep>tm5t1 includ+ c\nsel+ & c>e & 
s]vices "u section #agbj;,d ( ?is title2
  7,c7 heal? c>e s]vices relat$ to      
sub/ance or drug abuse c\nsel+2  7,d7   
int5sive heal? c>e s]vices relat$ to    
physical !rapy = a s]vice-connect$      
disability2  7,e7 em]g5cy m5tal heal?   
c>e s]vices2 or  7,f7 su* o!r int5sive  
heal? c>e s]vices t ! ,secret>y det]m9es
 t provision ( assi/ance to ! vet]an to 

obta9 *ild c>e w\ld improve access to   
su* heal? c>e s]vices by ! vet]an4  7#c7
 ,! t]m facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t includes 
any ,vet ,c5t]4  7#d7 ,! t]m ,vet ,c5t] 
has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section        
#agab;,a ( ?is title4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical  
am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+ 
( su* *apt] is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] !   
item relat+ to section #agcj;,c ! foll[+
 new item3  #agcj;,d4 ,*ild c>e         
assi/ance = vet]ans receiv+ m5tal heal? 
c>e & o!r int5sive heal? c>e s]vices4  4
  7c7 ,feasibility /udy on *ild c>e =   
vet]ans receiv+ c>e 9 non-,dep>tm5t     
facilities  7#a7 ,/udy requir$ ,!       
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
conduct a feasibility /udy to det]m9e h[
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs c\ld   
provide *ild c>e assi/ance = vet]ans :o 
receive cov]$ heal? c>e s]vices 7z su*  
t]m is def9$ 9 section #agcj;,d7c77#b7 (
 title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$ 
by subsection 7a77 f ! ,dep>tm5t at     
non-,dep>tm5t facilities4  7#b7         
,submission to ,congress ,n lat] ?an "o 

ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !           
,committees on ,vet]ans ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a      
report conta9+ ! results ( ! /udy       
requir$ to be conduct$ "u p>agraph 7#a74
  7d7 ,public notice ,aft] ! enactm5t ( 
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all make publicly
 available on a ,dep>tm5t website notice
 ( ! *ild c>e assi/ance b5efit "u       
section #agcj;,d ( title #ch1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 z add$ by subsection 7a74 
,su* notice %all be easily accessible & 
visible & %all include a description ( !
 exp&$ & co/-free *ild c>e assi/ance =  
vet]ans1 eligibility requirem5ts1 & any 
additional in=mation ! ,secret>y        
det]m9es necess>y4  7e7 ,report to      
,congress ,n lat] ?an #ah mon?s aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
submit to ,congress a report on !       
effectiv5ess & accessibility ( ! *ild   
c>e assi/ance provid$ "u section        
#agaj;,d ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates     

,code1 z add$ by ?is section1 = eligible
 individuals :o reside 9 rural & highly 
rural areas4  7f7 ,au?ority to consult )
 ,secret>y ( ,def5se ,9 implem5t+       
section #agcj;,d ( title #ch1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 z add$ by subsection 7a71 
! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs may     
consult ) ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se4  #c4   
,/udy on effects ( *ild c>e assi/ance   
7a7 ,/udy requir$ ,n lat] ?an "o ye>    
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
conduct a /udy ( ! effects ( ! *ild c>e 
assi/ance provid$ "u section #b on      
access to cov]$ heal? c>e s]vices1 z t  
t]m is def9$ 9 t section1 & on          
compliance ) treatm5t protocols4  7b7   
,report ,n lat] ?an #ah mon?s aft] !    
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
submit a report to ,congress reg>d+ !   
/udy requir$ "u subsection 7a74  #d4    
,report requir$  7a7 ,annual report     
,beg9n+ 9 ! fir/ fiscal ye> foll[+ !    
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      

,vet]ans ,affairs %all submit1 z "p ( ! 
annual budget reque/ docum5t = !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 a report 
reg>d+ eligible vet]ans :o receiv$ *ild 
c>e assi/ance "u section #b dur+ !      
imm$iately prec$+ fiscal ye>4 ,ea* su*  
report %all include ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,!   
numb] ( su* eligible vet]ans 9 ea*      
region ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal?              
,adm9i/ration4  7#b7 ,if feasible1 !    
numb] ( su* eligible vet]ans p] facility
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#c7 ,! am\nt ( fund+ =
 su* assi/ance made available by !      
,secret>y--  7,a7 = ea* region ( !      
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration2 &  7,b7 =
 ea* type ( assi/ance specifi$ 9        
subsection 7b7 ( su* section4  7#d7     
,f9d+s reg>d+-- 7,a7 *all5ges 9 provid+ 
su* assi/ance2  7,b7 *ild c>e n cov]$ by
 su* assi/ance2 &  7,c7 recomm5dations  
to improve su* assi/ance4  7b7 ,bi5nial 
supplem5t ,n less ?an once e two ye>s1 !
 report "u subsection 7a7 %all include a
 supplem5t reg>d+ ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,o!r   
*all5ges reg>d+ *ild c>e s]vices t      

prev5t vet]ans f receiv+ cov]$ heal? c>e
 s]vices "u section #b4  7#b7 ,plans ( !
 ,secret>y to address *all5ges id5tifi$ 
"u p>agraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,an assessm5t ( 
! ext5t to :i* lack ( education by !    
,dep>tm5t or aw>5ess by vet]ans ( !     
assi/ance "u section #b contributes to a
 lack ( use ( su* assi/ance4  ,pass$ !  
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives ,febru>y #h1    
#bjai4;,cl]k4