PILOT PROGRAM FOR TRAVEL COST REIMBURSEMENT FOR ACCESSING READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICES.

SEC. 244. PILOT PROGRAM FOR TRAVEL COST REIMBURSEMENT FOR ACCESSING READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICES.(a) Pilot Program Required.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and commence a pilot program, within the Readjustment Counseling Services of the Veterans Health Administration, to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing payment to cover or offset financial difficulties of an individual in accessing or using transportation to and from the nearest Vet Center service site providing the necessary readjustment counseling services for the individual’s plan of service. (b) Participation.—(1) In general.—In carrying out the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall limit participation—(A) by individuals pursuant to paragraph (2); and (B) by Vet Centers pursuant to paragraph (3). (2) Participation by individuals.—(A) In general.—The Secretary shall limit participation in the pilot program to individuals who are eligible for services at a participating Vet Center and experiencing financial hardship. (B) Financial hardship.—The Secretary shall determine the meaning of “financial hardship” for purposes of subparagraph (A). (3) Participation of vet centers.—Vet Centers participating in the program shall be chosen by the Secretary from among those serving individuals in areas designated by the Secretary as rural or highly rural or Tribal lands. (c) Travel Allowances and Reimbursements.—Under the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide a participating individual a travel allowance or reimbursement at the earliest time practicable, but not later than 10 business days after the date of the appointment.136 STAT. 5461 (d) Duration.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program required by subsection (a) during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program. (e) Locations.—(1) In general.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at not fewer than five locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program. (2) Existing initiative.—(A) Locations participating in existing initiative.—Of the locations selected under paragraph (1), four shall be the locations participating in the initiative commenced under section 104(a) of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–154), as most recently amended by section 105 of the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–180), as of the date of the enactment of this Act. (B) Termination of existing initiative.—Section 104(a) of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, as so amended, is further amended by striking “September 30, 2023” and inserting “the date on which the pilot program required by subsection (a) of section 244 of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022 commences at each of the locations described in subsection (e)(2)(A) of such section”. (f) Annual Reports.—(1) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of the commencement of the pilot program required by subsection (a) and each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, 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 findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program. (2) Contents.—Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:(A) The number of individuals who benefitted from the pilot program, disaggregated by age, race or ethnicity, and sex, to the extent possible. (B) The average distance traveled by each individual per each Vet Center. (C) The definition of financial hardship determined by the Secretary under subsection (b)(2)(B). (D) A description of how the funds are distributed. (E) The average amount of funds distributed per instance, disaggregated by Vet Center. (F) A description of any impediments to the Secretary in paying expenses or allowances under the pilot program. (G) An assessment of the potential for fraudulent receipt of payment under the pilot program and the recommendations of the Secretary for legislative or administrative action to reduce such fraud. (H) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate with respect to the payment of expenses or allowances.136 STAT. 5462 (g) Vet Center Defined.—In this section, the term “Vet Center” means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code.