PROGRAM ON ESTABLISHMENT OF PEER SPECIALISTS IN PATIENT ALIGNED CARE TEAM SETTINGS WITHIN MEDICAL CENTERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

SEC. 506. [38 U.S.C. 1701 note] PROGRAM ON ESTABLISHMENT OF PEER SPECIALISTS IN PATIENT ALIGNED CARE TEAM SETTINGS WITHIN MEDICAL CENTERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (a) Program Required.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program to establish not fewer than two peer specialists in patient aligned care teams at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs to promote the use and integration of services for mental health, substance use disorder, and behavioral health in a primary care setting. Each such peer specialist shall be a full-time employee whose primary function is to serve as a peer specialist and shall be in addition to all other employees of such medical center. (b) Initial Timeframe for Establishment of Program.—The Secretary shall carry out the program at medical centers of the Department as follows: (1) Not later than May 31, 2019, at not fewer than 15 medical centers of the Department. (2) Not later than May 31, 2020, at not fewer than 30 medical centers of the Department. (c) Initial Selection of Locations.— (1) In general.—In establishing the program at initial locations, the Secretary shall select medical centers for the program as follows: (A) Not fewer than five shall be medical centers of the Department that are designated by the Secretary as polytrauma centers. (B) Not fewer than 10 shall be medical centers of the Department that are not designated by the Secretary as polytrauma centers. (2) Considerations.—In selecting medical centers for the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the feasibility and advisability of selecting medical centers in the following areas: (A) Rural areas and other areas that are underserved by the Department. (B) Areas that are not in close proximity to an active duty military installation. (C) Areas representing different geographic locations, such as census tracts established by the Bureau of the Census. (d) Timeframe for Expansion of Program; Selection of Additional Locations.— (1) Timeframe for expansion.—The Secretary shall make permanent and expand the program to additional medical centers of the Department as follows: (A) As of the date of the enactment of the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022, the Secretary shall make such program permanent at each medical center participating in the program on the day before such date of enactment. (B) During the seven-year period following such date of enactment, the Secretary shall expand the program to an additional 25 medical centers per year until the program is carried out at each medical center of the Department. (2) Selection of additional locations.—In selecting medical centers for the expansion of the program under paragraph (1)(B), until such time as each medical center of the Department is participating in the program by establishing not fewer than two peer specialists at the medical center, the Secretary shall prioritize medical centers in the following areas: (A) Rural areas and other areas that are underserved by the Department. (B) Areas that are not in close proximity to an active duty military installation. (C) Areas representing different geographic locations, such as census tracts established by the Bureau of the Census. (e) Considerations for Hiring Peer Specialists.—In carrying out the program at each medical center, the Secretary shall ensure that— (1) the needs of female veterans are specifically considered and addressed; (2) female peer specialists are hired and made available to support female veterans who are treated at each medical center. (f) Engagement With Community Providers.—At each location selected under subsection (c), the Secretary shall consider ways in which peer specialists can conduct outreach to health care providers in the community who are known to be serving veterans to engage with those providers and veterans served by those providers. (g) Reports.— (1) Periodic reports.— (A) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022, and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the program, including the expansion of the program under subsection (d)(1). (B) Elements.—Each report under subparagraph (A) shall include, with respect to the one-year period preceding the submission of the report, the following: (i) The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program. (ii) An assessment of the benefits of the program to veterans and family members of veterans. (iii) An assessment of the effectiveness of peer specialists in engaging under subsection (f) with health care providers in the community and veterans served by such providers. (iv) The name and location of each medical center where new peer specialists were hired. (v) The number of new peer specialists hired at each medical center pursuant to this section and the total number of peer specialists within the Department hired pursuant to this section. (vi) An assessment of any barriers confronting the recruitment, training, or retention of peer specialists. (2) Final report.—Not later than one year after the Secretary determines that the program is being carried out at each medical center of the Department, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report notifying such committees of such determination.