59–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 114–365 

FEMALE VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACT 

DECEMBER 3, 2015.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. MILLER of Florida, from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 2915] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 2915) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs to identify mental health care and 

suicide prevention programs and metrics that are effective in treating women veterans as part of the evaluation of such programs by 

the Secretary, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do 

pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Amendment .............................................................................................................. 2 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 3 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 3 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 4 

Subcommittee Consideration .................................................................................. 5 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 5 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 6 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 6 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 6 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 6 

Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits .................................................................. 6 

Committee Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 6 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 6 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 7 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 8 

Constitutional Authority Statement ...................................................................... 8 

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 8 

Statement on Duplication of Federal Programs .................................................... 8 

Disclosure of Directed Rulemaking ........................................................................ 8 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 8 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill as Reported ...................................... 9 


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AMENDMENT

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act’’. 

SEC. 2. SPECIFIC CONSIDERATION OF WOMEN VETERANS IN EVALUATION OF DEPARTMENT 

OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. 

Section 1709B(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting before the semicolon the following: ‘‘, including specific metrics applicable to women’’; 

(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(3) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 

and’’; and 

(4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 

‘‘(F) identify the mental health care and suicide prevention programs conducted by the Secretary that are most effective for women veterans and such 

programs with the highest satisfaction rates among women veterans.’’. 

SEC. 3. MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED IN CLASSIFIED MISSIONS. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that veterans who experience combat-related mental health wounds should have immediate, appropriate, and 

consistent access to comprehensive mental health care. 

(b) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is 

amended by adding at the end the following section: 

‘‘§ 1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified 

missions 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS.—(1) The Secretary shall establish standards 

and procedures to ensure that each covered veteran may access mental health care 

provided by the Secretary in a manner that fully accommodates the obligation of 

the veteran to not improperly disclose classified information. 

‘‘(2) The Secretary shall disseminate guidance to employees of the Veterans 

Health Administration, including mental health professionals, on the standards and 

procedures established under paragraph (1) and how to best engage covered veterans during the course of mental health treatment with respect to classified information. 

‘‘(b) IDENTIFICATION.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that 

a veteran may elect to identify as a covered veteran on an appropriate form. 

‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) The term ‘classified information’ means any information or material that 

has been determined by an official of the United States pursuant to law, an Executive order, or regulation to require protection against unauthorized disclosure for reasons of national security. 

‘‘(2) The term ‘covered veteran’ means a veteran who— 

‘‘(A) is enrolled in the health care system established under section 

1705(a) of this title; 

‘‘(B) is seeking mental health treatment; and 

‘‘(C) in the course of serving in the Armed Forces, participated in a sensitive mission or served in a sensitive unit. 

‘‘(3) The term ‘sensitive mission’ means a mission of the Armed Forces that, 

at the time at which a covered veteran seeks treatment, is classified. 

‘‘(4) The term ‘sensitive unit’ has the meaning given that term in section 

130b(c)(4) of title 10.’’. 

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 

is amended by adding after the item relating to section 1720G the following new 

item: 

‘‘1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions.’’. 

Amend the title so as to read: 

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to identify mental health care and suicide prevention programs and metrics that are effective in treating 

women veterans as part of the evaluation of such programs by the 

Secretary, and for other purposes. 


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1See, Suicide Data Report, 2012, Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Services Suicide Prevention Program, http://www.va.gov/opa/docs/suicide-data-report-2012-final.pdf. 2See, Suicide Rates in VHA Patients through 2011 with Comparisons with Other Americans 

and other Veterans through 2012, http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/SuicidelDatal ReportlUpdatelJanuaryl2014.pdf. 3See,‘‘Suicide rate of female military veterans is called ‘staggering’ ’’, Los Angeles Times, June 

8, 2015. http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-female-veteran-suicide-20150608-story.html. 4See, ‘‘Changes in Suicide Mortality for Veterans and Nonveterans by Gender and History of 

VHA Service Use, 2000—2010’’, Psychiatric Services, Volume 66, Issue 9, September 01, 2015. 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 2915, the Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act, was introduced by Representative Julia Brownley of California on June 

25, 2015. H.R. 2915, as amended, incorporates the text of H.R. 

2915 and includes provisions from H.R. 421, which was introduced 

by Representative Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona on January 20, 2015. 

H.R. 2915, as amended, would: (1) direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to identify mental health care and suicide prevention programs that are most effective and have the highest satisfaction rates among women veterans; and, (2) require VA to establish and disseminate standards and procedures to ensure that 

a veteran who participated in a classified mission or served in a 

sensitive unit while in the Armed Forces may access VA mental 

health care in a manner that fully accommodates his/her obligation 

not to improperly disclose classified information. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Section 2—Specific consideration of women veterans in evaluation 

of Department of Veterans Affairs mental health care and suicide prevention programs 

Congress has long recognized the unacceptable rates of suicide 

among the nation’s veterans. Most recently, Congress passed the 

Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act (P.L. 

114–2, 129 Stat. 30), which requires an independent third party to 

evaluate VA mental health care and suicide prevention programs, 

to include: (1) metrics that are common and useful for mental 

health and suicide prevention practitioners; (2) identify most effective programs; (3) identify the cost-effectiveness of each program; 

and (4) propose best practices. 

VA’s most recent suicide data report was released on February 

1, 2013.1 That report found that 18 to 22 veterans per day die as 

a result of suicide, a number that has remained stable since 1999 

despite significant increases in VA’s mental health and suicide prevention budget, programs, and staff. In January 2014, VA released 

an update to the 2012 Suicide Data Report that found increases in 

the suicide rate in female users of the VA health care system. Importantly, this update found increases in the suicide rate among female veterans who use the VA health care system.2 This finding 

echoes recent research that found female veterans commit suicide 

at nearly six times the rate of other women,3 and that women veterans are five times more likely to commit suicide than male veterans.4 These findings call into question the efficacy of VA’s mental 

health and suicide prevention programs for female veterans and 

highlight the need for an increased focus on mental health care and 

suicide prevention efforts among women, who are one of the fastest 

growing subpopulations of veterans. However, most of VA’s reVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:19 Dec 05, 2015 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR365.XXX HR365

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search regarding suicide has focused on male veterans, who account for more than 90% of the veteran population. 

Section 2 would amend the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for 

American Veterans Act to include, within the independent third 

party evaluation, specific metrics applicable to women and to identify the VA mental health care and suicide prevention programs 

that are most effective and have the highest patient satisfaction 

rates among women veterans. 

Section 3—Mental health treatment of veterans who serve in classified missions 

The Committee believes that providing veterans in need with accessible, high-quality, and responsive mental health care is one of 

VA’s most important missions. The Department alleges that VA 

mental health providers treating veterans who served on sensitive 

or classified missions during their military service ensure that the 

treatment that is provided to these veterans does not compromise 

their need for confidentiality. However, serious concerns have been 

raised about the provision of mental health care to these veterans 

following the suicide death of Sergeant Daniel Somers, who had 

served on a number of classified missions and was enrolled in VA 

group therapy sessions despite his fears about inadvertently sharing classified information in that setting. Sergeant Somers’ military 

service was largely classified and could not be discussed with anyone lacking appropriate clearance. Enrolling him in group therapy 

sessions over his objections created an environment in which he 

felt that he was unable to seek care due to his national security 

obligations. Tragically, Sergeant Somers committed suicide in June 

2013. 

Section 3 of the bill would direct VA to establish standards and 

procedures to ensure that veterans who participated in classified 

missions or served in sensitive units may access mental health care 

in a manner that fully accommodates their obligation to not improperly disclose classified information. The Committee urges the 

Secretary to develop procedures to ensure that mental health professionals caring for these veterans have appropriate security clearances, as needed. VA would also be required to disseminate guidance to VA employees—including mental health professionals—on 

these standards and procedures and on how to best engage veterans during the course of their mental health treatment with respect to classified information. This provision would require the 

Department to find alternative methods of mental health treatment 

for veterans who need to access care without being put in a position where they may reveal information that should not be disclosed. 

HEARINGS

There were no full Committee hearings held on H.R. 2915. 

On July 14, 2015, the Subcommittee on Health conducted a legislative hearing on various bills introduced in the 114th Congress, 

including H.R. 2915 and H.R. 421. The following witnesses testified: 

The Honorable Tim Walberg, U.S. House of Representatives, 7th 

Congressional District, Michigan; The Honorable Sean Duffy, U.S. 

House of Representatives, 7th Congressional District, Wisconsin; 


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The Honorable Steve Stivers, U.S. House of Representatives, 15th 

Congressional District, Ohio; The Honorable Kyrsten Sinema, U.S. 

House of Representatives, 9th Congressional District, Arizona; The 

Honorable Doug Collins, U.S. House of Representatives, 9th Congressional District, Georgia; The Honorable Mike Coffman, U.S. 

House of Representatives, 6th Congressional District, Colorado; 

The Honorable Jeff Denham, U.S. House of Representatives, 10th 

Congressional District, California; The Honorable Charles Boustany, U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd Congressional District, 

Louisiana; The Honorable Brad Wenstrup, U.S. House of Representatives, 2nd Congressional District, Ohio; Ian de Planque, 

Legislative Director, American Legion; Adrian Atizado, Assistant 

National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Carlos 

Fuentes, Senior Legislative Associate, National Legislative Service, 

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States; and, Madhulika 

Agarwal, MD, MPH, Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy 

and Services, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of 

Veterans Affairs, who was accompanied by Janet P. Murphy, MBA, 

Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and 

Management, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of 

Veterans Affairs; and Jessica Tanner, General Attorney, Office of 

General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Statements for the Record were submitted by: 

The American Academy of Audiology and the American SpeechLanguage Association; the Children of Vietnam Veterans Health 

Alliance, the International Hearing Society; Iraq and Afghanistan 

Veterans of America; the National Medical Association; Paralyzed 

Veterans of America; VetsFirst, a program of the United Spinal Association: Vietnam Veterans of America; Warrior Canine Connection; the American Academy of Ophthalmology; and, the American 

Medical Association. 

SUBCOMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On July 22, 2015, the Subcommittee on Health met in open 

markup session, a quorum being present, and favorably forwarded 

to the full Committee H.R. 2915 and H.R. 421, as amended, by 

voice vote. During consideration of the bills, the following amendment was considered: 

An amendment to H.R. 421 offered by Representative Julia 

Brownley of California, which provided a short title of ‘‘The Sergeant Daniel Somers Classified Veterans Access to Care Act’’ was 

agreed to by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On September 17, 2015, the full Committee met in open markup 

session, a quorum being present, and ordered H.R. 2915, as amended, reported favorably to the House of Representatives, by voice 

vote. During consideration of the bill, the following amendment 

was considered: 

An amendment in the nature of a substitute by Representative 

Julia Brownley of California, which combined the text of H.R. 2915, 

as introduced, and H.R. 421, as amended. The amendment in the 

nature of a substitute was agreed to by voice vote. 


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COMMITTEE VOTES

In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, there were no recorded votes taken in 

connection with ordering H.R. 2915, as amended, reported to the 

House. A motion by Ranking Member Corrine Brown of Florida to 

report H.R. 2915, as amended, favorably to the House of Representatives was agreed to by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause (2)(b)(1) 

of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the 

descriptive portions of this report. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee’s performance goals and 

objectives are that the Secretary will use these provisions to improve the mental health care provided to women veterans and to 

veterans who have served on classified missions or in sensitive 

units in the Armed Forces. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

EARMARKS AND TAX AND TARIFF BENEFITS

H.R. 2915, as amended, does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 

clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate on H.R. 2915, 

as amended, prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 

Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 

1974. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate for H.R. 2915, 

as amended, provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant 

to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 


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U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, October 29, 2015. 

Hon. JEFF MILLER, 

Chairman, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2915, the Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Ann E. Futrell. 

Sincerely, 

KEITH HALL. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 2915—Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act 

H.R. 2915 would revise the requirements for an annual independent assessment to include metrics on suicide among female 

veterans. The assessment was recently established under the Clay 

Hunt SAV Act (Public Law 114–2) and requires a nongovernment 

entity to review and report on the mental health care provided by 

the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also would require VA to establish and disseminate standards for providing 

mental health treatment to veterans who served on classified missions. 

Based on information from VA and independent entities who 

have prepared similar assessments, CBO expects that adding an 

additional metric would increase the cost of preparing the report on 

mental health care by an insignificant amount, as would preparing 

and disseminating standards for mental health treatment. On that 

basis, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2915 would cost less 

than $500,000 over the 2016–2020 period. Any spending would be 

subject to the availability of appropriated funds. 

Enacting H.R. 2915 would not affect direct spending or revenues; 

therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates 

that enacting H.R. 2915 would not increase net direct spending or 

on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026. 

H.R. 2915 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Ann E. Futrell. The 

estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant 

Director for Budget Analysis. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates regarding H.R. 2915, as amended, prepared by the Director 

of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 


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ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act would be created by H.R. 2915, as 

amended. 

STATEMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY

Pursuant to Article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution, 

the reported bill is authorized by Congress’ power to ‘‘provide for 

the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States.’’ 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

STATEMENT ON DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to section 3(g) of H. Res. 5, 114th Cong. (2015), the 

Committee finds that no provision of H.R. 2915, as amended, establishes or reauthorizes a program of the Federal Government known 

to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was 

included in any report from the Government Accountability Office 

to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111–139, or a 

program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog 

of Federal Domestic Assistance. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULEMAKING

Pursuant to section 3(i) of H. Res. 5, 114th Cong. (2015), the 

Committee estimates that H.R. 2915, as amended, contains no directed rule making that would require the Secretary to prescribe 

regulations. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1—Short title 

Section 1 would provide a short title of H.R. 2915, as amended, 

as the ‘‘Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act.’’ 

Section 2—Specific consideration of women veterans in evaluation 

of Department of Veterans Affairs mental health care and suicide prevention programs 

Section 2 would amend section 1709B(a)(2) of title 38 U.S.C., in 

subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘, including specific metrics applicable to women’’ before the semicolon; in subparagraph (E) by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and, by adding at 

the end a new subparagraph (F) to read ‘‘(F) identify the mental 

health care and suicide prevention programs conducted by the Secretary that are most effective for women veterans and such programs with the highest satisfaction rates among women veterans.’’ 


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Section 3—Mental health treatment of veterans who serve in classified missions 

Section 3(a) would provide the sense of Congress that veterans 

who experience combat-related mental health wounds should have 

immediate, appropriate, and consistent access to comprehensive 

mental health care. 

Section 3(b) would amend subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38 

U.S.C., by adding at the end a new section entitled, ‘‘§ 1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions.’’ 

Proposed sec. 1720H(a) would require the Secretary to establish 

standards and procedures to ensure that each covered veteran may 

access mental health care provided by the Secretary in a manner 

that fully accommodates the obligation of the veteran to not improperly disclose classified information and require the Secretary to 

disseminate guidance to Veterans Health Administration employees, including mental health professionals, on the standard and 

procedures established and how to best engage covered veterans 

during the course of mental health treatment with respect to classified information. 

Proposed sec. 1720H(b) would require the Secretary to ensure 

that a veteran may elect to identify as a covered veteran on an appropriate form. 

Proposed sec. 1720H(c) would define: the term ‘‘classified information’’ as any information or material that has been determined 

by an official of the United States pursuant to law, an Executive 

Order, or regulation to require protection against unauthorized disclosure for reasons of national security; the term ‘‘covered veteran’’ 

as a veteran enrolled in the health care system established under 

section 1705(a) of title 38 U.S.C., who is seeking mental health 

treatment and, in the course of serving in the Armed Forces, participated in a sensitive mission or services in a sensitive unit; the 

term ‘‘sensitive mission’’ as a mission of the Armed Forces that, at 

the time at which a covered veteran seeks treatment, is classified; 

and, the term ‘‘sensitive unit’’ as the meaning given that term in 

section 130b(c)(4) of title 10 U.S.C. 

Section 3(c) would amend the table of sections at the beginning 

of subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38 U.S.C., by adding after the 

item relating to section 1720G the following new item, ‘‘1720H. 

Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions.’’ 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 


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and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 

TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE 

* * * * * * * 

PART II—GENERAL BENEFITS 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 17—HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, 

DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE 

SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL 

Sec. 

1701. Definitions. 

* * * * * * * 

SUBCHAPTER II—HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, OR DOMICILIARY CARE AND 

MEDICAL TREATMENT 

* * * * * * * 

1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions. 

SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1709B. Evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs 

(a) EVALUATIONS.—(1) Not less frequently than once during each 

period specified in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall provide for 

the conduct of an evaluation of the mental health care and suicide 

prevention programs carried out under the laws administered by 

the Secretary. 

(2) Each evaluation conducted under paragraph (1) shall— 

(A) use metrics that are common among and useful for practitioners in the field of mental health care and suicide prevention, including specific metrics applicable to women; 

(B) identify the most effective mental health care and suicide 

prevention programs conducted by the Secretary, including 

such programs conducted at a Center of Excellence; 

(C) identify the cost-effectiveness of each program identified 

under subparagraph (B); 

(D) measure the satisfaction of patients with respect to the 

care provided under each such program; øand¿ 

(E) propose best practices for caring for individuals who suffer from mental health disorders or are at risk of suicide, including such practices conducted or suggested by other departments or agencies of the Federal Government, including the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

of the Department of Health and Human Servicesø.¿; and 

(F) identify the mental health care and suicide prevention 

programs conducted by the Secretary that are most effective for 

women veterans and such programs with the highest satisfaction rates among women veterans. 

(3) The periods specified in this paragraph are the following: 


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(A) The period beginning on the date on which the Secretary 

awards the contract under paragraph (4) and ending on September 30, 2018. 

(B) Each fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 2018. 

(4) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

this section, the Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract with 

an independent third party unaffiliated with the Department of 

Veterans Affairs to conduct evaluations under paragraph (1). 

(5) The independent third party that is awarded the contract 

under paragraph (4) shall submit to the Secretary each evaluation 

conducted under paragraph (1). 

(b) ANNUAL SUBMISSION.—Not later than December 1, 2018, and 

each year thereafter, 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 that contains the 

following: 

(1) The most recent evaluations submitted to the Secretary 

under subsection (a)(5) that the Secretary has not previously 

submitted to such Committees. 

(2) Any recommendations the Secretary considers appropriate. 

SUBCHAPTER II—HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, OR 

DOMICILIARY CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT 

* * * * * * * 

§ 1720H. Mental health treatment for veterans who served in 

classified missions 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS.—(1) The Secretary shall establish standards and procedures to ensure that each covered veteran may access mental health care provided by the Secretary in a 

manner that fully accommodates the obligation of the veteran to not 

improperly disclose classified information. 

(2) The Secretary shall disseminate guidance to employees of the 

Veterans Health Administration, including mental health professionals, on the standards and procedures established under paragraph (1) and how to best engage covered veterans during the course 

of mental health treatment with respect to classified information. 

(b) IDENTIFICATION.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary 

shall ensure that a veteran may elect to identify as a covered veteran on an appropriate form. 

(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) The term ‘‘classified information’’ means any information 

or material that has been determined by an official of the 

United States pursuant to law, an Executive order, or regulation to require protection against unauthorized disclosure for 

reasons of national security. 

(2) The term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means a veteran who— 

(A) is enrolled in the health care system established 

under section 1705(a) of this title; 

(B) is seeking mental health treatment; and 

(C) in the course of serving in the Armed Forces, participated in a sensitive mission or served in a sensitive unit. 


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(3) The term ‘‘sensitive mission’’ means a mission of the 

Armed Forces that, at the time at which a covered veteran seeks 

treatment, is classified. 

(4) The term ‘‘sensitive unit’’ has the meaning given that term 

in section 130b(c)(4) of title 10. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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