MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS.

SEC. 404. MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS.(a) Mental Health Consultations for Veterans Filing for Compensation.—(1) In general.—Subchapter VI of chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:“§ 1167. Mental health consultations“(a) In General.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which a veteran submits to the Secretary a claim for compensation under this chapter for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis, the Secretary shall offer the veteran a mental health consultation to assess the mental health needs of, and care options for, the veteran. “(b) Availability.—The Secretary shall—“(1) offer a veteran a consultation under subsection (a) without regard to any previous denial or approval of a claim of that veteran for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis; and “(2) ensure that a veteran offered a mental health consultation under subsection (a) may elect to receive such consultation during the one-year period beginning on the date on which the consultation is offered or during such longer period beginning on such date as the Secretary considers appropriate. “(c) Rule of Construction.—A consultation provided to a veteran under this section shall not be construed as a determination that any disability of such veteran is service-connected for the purposes of any benefit under the laws administered by the Secretary.” . (2) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item: “1167. Mental health consultations.”. (b) Mental Health Consultations for Veterans Entering Homeless Programs Office Programs.—(1) In general.—Subchapter VII of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:136 STAT. 5513 “§ 2068. Mental health consultations“(a) In General.—Not later than two weeks after the date on which a veteran described in subsection (b) enters into a program administered by the Homeless Programs Office of the Department, the Secretary shall offer the veteran a mental health consultation to assess the health needs of, and care options for, the veteran. “(b) Veteran Described.—A veteran described in this subsection is a veteran to whom a mental health consultation is not offered or provided through the case management services of the program of the Homeless Programs Office into which the veteran enters.” . (2) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item: “2068. Mental health consultations.”.