S.Amdt. 5341

1. Adds SEC. 1083. PILOT PROGRAM ON PROVISION OF MOBILE CARE AND SERVICES TO VETERANS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS at the end of subtitle G of title X

   Adds a section

   In S. 3001 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (2) in paragraph (2), by striking "implemented" and inserting "developed".

   Inserted: SEC. 1083. PILOT PROGRAM ON PROVISION OF MOBILE CARE AND SERVICES TO VETERANS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS.

   Inserted: (a) Pilot Program Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing care and services described in subsection (d) to veterans residing in rural areas through the mobile centers described in subsection (e).

   Inserted: (b) General Administration.--

   Inserted: (1) Principal responsibility.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program through the Director of the Office of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (2) Consultation.--The pilot program shall be developed and carried out in consultation with the following:

   Inserted: (A) The Regional Director of Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 23, in which mobile Department of Veterans Affairs clinics are currently in operation.

   Inserted: (B) The Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services.

   Inserted: (C) The agencies or offices for rural health in the States selected for participation in the pilot program.

   Inserted: (D) The country or local agencies or offices for rural health in the areas designated for the pilot program.

   Inserted: (c) Locations.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The pilot program shall be carried out in not less than three Veterans Integrated Services Networks selected by the Secretary for the purposes of the pilot program.

   Inserted: (2) Rural areas within visns.--The pilot program shall be carried out in one or more rural areas in each Veterans Integrated Services Network selected under paragraph (1) that are designated by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program in consultation with the Regional Director of such Veterans Integrated Services Network. In designating such areas, the Secretary shall take into account--

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   Inserted: (A) the number of veterans residing in or near an area;

   Inserted: (B) the proximity of the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility; and

   Inserted: (C) the difficulty of access of such veterans to the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility, whether by reason of travel or other factors.

   Inserted: (d) Care and Services Provided.--The care and services provided under the pilot program may include, but not be limited to, care and services as follows:

   Inserted: (1) Counseling and education for veterans on accessing such health care, educational, pension, or other benefits for which veterans may be eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (2) Assistance for veterans in completing paperwork necessary for enrollment in the healthcare system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (3) The prescription for and delivery to veterans of medications for which veterans are entitled under such laws, including, in particular, medications for veterans suffering from acute or chronic injuries or illnesses.

   Inserted: (4) Mental health screenings for veterans to identify potential mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or a substance abuse, including, in particular, for veterans recently discharged or released after service overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

   Inserted: (5) Job placement assistance and information on employment or training opportunities for veterans.

   Inserted: (6) Substance abuse counseling for veterans.

   Inserted: (7) Bereavement counseling for families of members of the Armed Forces who were killed in military service.

   Inserted: (8) Such other care, services, and assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of the pilot program.

   Inserted: (e) Mobile Centers.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Care and services under the pilot program shall be provided through mobile centers established for purposes of the pilot program that meets the requirements of this subsection.

   Inserted: (2) Mobile centers.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall determine the most effective manner in which to operate the mobile centers.

   Inserted: (3) Personnel and materials.--In providing care and services under the pilot program, the mobile centers shall transport such personnel, equipment, forms, information, and other materiel as are necessary for the provision of care and services under the pilot program.

   Inserted: (f) Coordination Requirements.--

   Inserted: (1) Identification of veterans not enrolled in va health care system.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly undertake action to identify veterans residing in areas designated for the pilot program who are not enrolled in, or otherwise being cared for by, the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (2) Coordination with county and local veterans service offices.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate with county and local veterans service officers in areas designated for the pilot program.

   Inserted: (3) Utilization of community-based outpatient clinics.--The program shall, to the extent practicable, utilize appropriate personnel and resources of community-based outpatient clinics of the Department of Veterans Affairs in areas designated for the pilot program, including the inclusion of such personnel in visits of the mobile centers under subsection (e).

   Inserted: (g) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this section.

   Inserted: (h) Reports.--Not later than one year after the commencement of the pilot program, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the pilot program. Each report shall include the following:

   Inserted: (1) A description and assessment of the pilot program.

   Inserted: (2) An assessment, current as of the date of such report, of the effectiveness of the pilot program in providing care and services to veterans residing in rural areas, including a comparative assessment of effectiveness for each of the various areas designated for the pilot program.

   Inserted: (3) An assessment, current as of the date of such report, of the effectiveness of the coordination described in subsection (f) in contributing toward the effectiveness of the pilot program.

   Inserted: (4) Such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate for modifications of the pilot program in order to better provide care and services to veterans residing in rural areas.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

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As printed