PILOT PROGRAM ON PEER OUTREACH AND SUPPORT FOR VETERANS AND USE OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AND INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE FACILITIES.

SEC. 107. PILOT PROGRAM ON PEER OUTREACH AND SUPPORT FOR VETERANS AND USE OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AND INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE FACILITIES.(a) Pilot Program Required.—Commencing not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasability and advisability of providing to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and, in particular, veterans who served in such operations as a member of the National Guard or Reserve, the following:(1) Peer outreach services.(2) Peer support services provided by licensed providers of peer support services or veterans who have personal experience with mental illness.(3) Readjustment counseling services described in section 1712A of title 38, United States Code.(4) Other mental health services.(b) Provision of Certain Services.—In providing services described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a) under the pilot program to veterans who reside in rural areas and do not have adequate access through the Department of Veterans Affairs to the services described in such paragraphs, the Secretary shall, acting through the Office of Mental Health Services and the Office of Rural Health, provide such services as follows:(1) Through community mental health centers under contracts or other agreements if entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the provision of such services for purposes of the pilot program.(2) Through the Indian Health Service, or an Indian tribe or tribal organization that has entered into an agreement with the Indian Health Service pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.), if a memorandum of understanding is entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Health and Human Services for purposes of the pilot program.122 STAT. 4117(3) Through other appropriate entities under contracts or other agreements entered into by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the provision of such services for purposes of the pilot program.(c) Duration.—The pilot program shall be carried out during the three-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.(d) Program Locations.—(1) In general.—The pilot program shall be carried out within areas selected by the Secretary for the purpose of the pilot program in at least three Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs).(2) Rural geographic locations.—The locations selected shall be in rural geographic locations that, as determined by the Secretary, lack access to comprehensive mental health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs.(3) Qualified providers.—In selecting locations for the pilot program, the Secretary shall select locations in which an adequate number of licensed mental health care providers with credentials equivalent to those of Department mental health care providers are available in Indian Health Service facilities, community mental health centers, and other entities for participation in the pilot program.(e) Participation in Program.—Each community mental health center, facility of the Indian Health Service, or other entity participating in the pilot program under subsection (b) shall—(1) provide the services described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a) to eligible veterans, including, to the extent practicable, telehealth services that link the center or facility with Department of Veterans Affairs clinicians;(2) use the clinical practice guidelines of the Veterans Health Administration or the Department of Defense in the provision of such services; and(3) meet such other requirements as the Secretary shall require.(f) Compliance With Department Protocols.—Each community mental health center, facility of the Indian Health Service, or other entity participating in the pilot program under subsection (b) shall comply with—(1) applicable protocols of the Department before incurring any liability on behalf of the Department for the provision of services as part of the pilot program; and(2) access and quality standards of the Department relevant to the provision of services as part of the pilot program.(g) Provision of Clinical Information.—Each community mental health center, facility of the Indian Health Service, or other entity participating in the pilot program under subsection (b) shall, in a timely fashion, provide the Secretary with such clinical information on each veteran for whom such health center or facility provides mental health services under the pilot program as the Secretary shall require.(h) Training.—(1) Training of veterans.—As part of the pilot program, the Secretary shall carry out a program of training for veterans described in subsection (a) to provide the services described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of such subsection.(2) Training of clinicians.—122 STAT. 4118(A) In general.—The Secretary shall conduct a training program for clinicians of community mental health centers, Indian Health Service facilities, or other entities participating in the pilot program under subsection (b) to ensure that such clinicians can provide the services described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a) in a manner that accounts for factors that are unique to the experiences of veterans who served on active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom (including their combat and military training experiences).(B) Participation in training.—Personnel of each community mental health center, facility of the Indian Health Service, or other entity participating in the pilot program under subsection (b) shall participate in the training program conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A).(i) Annual Reports.—Each community mental health center, facility of the Indian Health Service, or other entity participating in the pilot program under subsection (b) shall submit to the Secretary on an annual basis a report containing, with respect to the provision of services under subsection (b) and for the last full calendar year ending before the submission of such report—(1) the number of—(A) veterans served; and(B) courses of treatment provided; and(2) demographic information for such services, diagnoses, and courses of treatment.(j) Program Evaluation.—(1) In general.—The Secretary shall, through Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Services investigators and in collaboration with relevant program offices of the Department, design and implement a strategy for evaluating the pilot program.(2) Elements.—The strategy implemented under paragraph (1) shall assess the impact that contracting with community mental health centers, the Indian Health Service, and other entities participating in the pilot program under subsection (b) has on the following:(A) Access to mental health care by veterans in need of such care.(B) The use of telehealth services by veterans for mental health care needs.(C) The quality of mental health care and substance use disorder treatment services provided to veterans in need of such care and services.(D) The coordination of mental health care and other medical services provided to veterans.(k) Definitions.—In this section:(1) The term “community mental health center” has the meaning given such term in section 410.2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act).(2) The term “eligible veteran” means a veteran in need of mental health services who—(A) is enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system; and122 STAT. 4119(B) has received a referral from a health professional of the Veterans Health Administration to a community mental health center, a facility of the Indian Health Service, or other entity for purposes of the pilot program.(3) The term “Indian Health Service” means the organization established by section 601(a) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661(a)).(l) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.