II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1873 

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to 

establish peer specialists in patient aligned care teams at medical centers 

of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself and Mr. BLUNT) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 

a program to establish peer specialists in patient aligned 

care teams at medical centers of the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veteran Partners’ Ef5 forts to Enhance Reintegration Act’’ or the ‘‘Veteran 

6 PEER Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. PROGRAM ON ESTABLISHMENT OF PEER SPECIAL2 ISTS IN PATIENT ALIGNED CARE TEAM SET3 TINGS WITHIN MEDICAL CENTERS OF DE4 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

5 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs shall carry out a program to establish not 

7 fewer than two peer specialists in patient aligned care 

8 teams at medical centers of the Department of Veterans 

9 Affairs to promote the use and integration of services for 

10 mental health, substance use disorder, and behavior health 

11 in a primary care setting. 

12 (b) TIMEFRAME FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF PRO13 GRAM.—The Secretary shall carry out the program at 

14 medical centers of the Department as follows: 

15 (1) Not later than December 31, 2017, at not 

16 fewer than 25 medical centers of the Department. 

17 (2) Not later than December 31, 2018, at not 

18 fewer than 50 medical centers of the Department. 

19 (c) SELECTION OF LOCATIONS.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall select 

21 medical centers for the program as follows: 

22 (A) Not fewer than five shall be medical 

23 centers of the Department that are designated 

24 by the Secretary as polytrauma centers. 


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1 (B) Not fewer than ten shall be medical 

2 centers of the Department that are not des3 ignated by the Secretary as polytrauma centers. 

4 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting medical 

5 centers for the program under paragraph (1), the 

6 Secretary shall consider the feasibility and advis7 ability of selecting medical centers in the following 

8 areas: 

9 (A) Rural areas and other areas that are 

10 underserved by the Department. 

11 (B) Areas that are not in close proximity 

12 to an active duty military installation. 

13 (C) Areas representing different geo14 graphic locations, such as census tracts estab15 lished by the Bureau of the Census. 

16 (d) GENDER-SPECIFIC SERVICES.—In carrying out 

17 the program at each location selected under subsection (c), 

18 the Secretary shall ensure that— 

19 (1) the needs of female veterans are specifically 

20 considered and addressed; and 

21 (2) female peer specialists are made available to 

22 female veterans who are treated at each location. 

23 (e) ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY PROVIDERS.— 

24 At each location selected under subsection (c), the Sec25 retary shall consider ways in which peer specialists can 


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1 conduct outreach to health care providers in the commu2 nity who are known to be serving veterans to engage with 

3 those providers and veterans served by those providers. 

4 (f) REPORTS.— 

5 (1) PERIODIC REPORTS.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 

7 days after the date of the enactment of this 

8 Act, and not less frequently than once every 

9 180 days thereafter until the Secretary deter10 mines that the program is being carried out at 

11 the last location to be selected under subsection 

12 (c), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 

13 report on the program. 

14 (B) ELEMENTS.—Each report required by 

15 subparagraph (A) shall, with respect to the 

16 180-day period preceding the submittal of the 

17 report, include the following: 

18 (i) The findings and conclusions of 

19 the Secretary with respect to the program. 

20 (ii) An assessment of the benefits of 

21 the program to veterans and family mem22 bers of veterans. 

23 (iii) An assessment of the effective24 ness of peer specialists in engaging under 

25 subsection (e) with health care providers in 


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1 the community and veterans served by 

2 those providers. 

3 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 

4 after the Secretary determines that the program is 

5 being carried out at the last location to be selected 

6 under subsection (c), the Secretary shall submit to 

7 Congress a report detailing the recommendations of 

8 the Secretary as to the feasibility and advisability of 

9 expanding the program to additional locations. 

Æ 


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