PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VETERANS ACCESS TO COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS THROUGH ANIMAL THERAPY, AGRITHERAPY, SPORTS AND RECREATION THERAPY, ART THERAPY, AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH PROGRAMS.

SEC. 203. [38 U.S.C. 1712A note] PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VETERANS ACCESS TO COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS THROUGH ANIMAL THERAPY, AGRITHERAPY, SPORTS AND RECREATION THERAPY, ART THERAPY, AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH PROGRAMS. (a) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Creating Options for Veterans’ Expedited Recovery Commission (commonly referred to as the “COVER Commission”) established under section 931 of the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act (title IX of Public Law 114-198; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) submits its final report under subsection (e)(2) of such section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence the conduct of a pilot program to provide complementary and integrative health programs described in subsection (b) to eligible veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs or through the use of non-Department entities for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, or other conditions as determined by the Secretary. (b) Programs Described.—Complementary and integrative health programs described in this subsection may, taking into consideration the report described in subsection (a), consist of the following: (1) Equine therapy. (2) Other animal therapy. (3) Agritherapy. (4) Sports and recreation therapy. (5) Art therapy. (6) Posttraumatic growth programs. (c) Eligible Veterans.—A veteran is eligible to participate in the pilot program under this section if the veteran— (1) is enrolled in the system of patient enrollment of the Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; and (2) has received health care under the laws administered by the Secretary during the two-year period preceding the initial participation of the veteran in the pilot program. (d) Duration.— (1) In general.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under this section until September 30, 2025. (2) Extension.—The Secretary may extend the duration of the pilot program under this section if the Secretary, based on the results of the interim report submitted under subsection (f)(1), determines that it is appropriate to do so. (e) Locations.— (1) In general.—The Secretary shall select not fewer than five facilities of the Department at which to carry out the pilot program under this section. (2) Selection criteria.—In selecting facilities under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that— (A) the locations are in geographically diverse areas; and (B) not fewer than three facilities serve veterans in rural or highly rural areas (as determined through the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture). (f) Reports.— (1) Interim report.— (A) In general.—Not later than one year after the commencement of the pilot program under this section, 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 progress of the pilot program. (B) Elements.—The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i) The number of participants in the pilot program. (ii) The type or types of therapy offered at each facility at which the pilot program is being carried out. (iii) An assessment of whether participation by a veteran in the pilot program resulted in any changes in clinically relevant endpoints for the veteran with respect to the conditions specified in subsection (a). (iv) An assessment of the quality of life of veterans participating in the pilot program, including the results of a satisfaction survey of the participants in the pilot program, disaggregated by program under subsection (b). (v) The determination of the Secretary with respect to extending the pilot program under subsection (d)(2). (vi) Any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to expanding the pilot program. (2) Final report.—Not later than 90 days after the termination of the pilot program under this section, 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 final report on the pilot program.