II 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3340 

To improve and enhance the programs and activities of the Department 

of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding suicide 

prevention and resilience and behavioral health disorders for members 

of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 25, 2012 

Mrs. MURRAY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To improve and enhance the programs and activities of the 

Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans 

Affairs regarding suicide prevention and resilience and 

behavioral health disorders for members of the Armed 

Forces and veterans, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Mental Health Access to Continued Care and Enhance6 ment of Support Services Act of 2012’’ or ‘‘Mental Health 

7 ACCESS Act of 2012’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MATTERS 

Sec. 101. Enhancement of oversight and management of Department of Defense suicide prevention and resilience programs. 

Sec. 102. Comprehensive program on prevention of suicide among members of 

the Armed Forces. 

Sec. 103. Enhancement of training and education for physicians, mental health 

care providers, and related personnel on identification and 

treatment of behavioral health disorders. 

Sec. 104. Limitation on disclosure of mental health conditions or treatment or 

requests for treatment of members of the Armed Forces. 

Sec. 105. Sharing between Department of Defense and Department of Veterans 

Affairs of records and information retained under the medical 

tracking system for members of the Armed Forces deployed 

overseas. 

Sec. 106. Participation of members of the Armed Forces in peer support counseling programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 107. Research and medical practice on mental health conditions. 

Sec. 108. Quality review of Medical Evaluation Boards, Physical Evaluation 

Boards, and Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officers. 

Sec. 109. Compliance of Department of Defense with requirement for use of 

Department of Veterans Affairs schedule for rating disabilities 

in determinations of disability of members of the Armed 

Forces. 

Sec. 110. Disposal of controlled substances. 

Sec. 111. Assessment of adequacy of mental health care benefits under the 

TRICARE program. 

Sec. 112. Authority to exempt behavioral health care providers under the 

TRICARE program from State licensure requirements for provision of behavioral health care to members of the Armed 

Forces and dependents. 

Sec. 113. Report on adequacy of capacity of the military medical treatment system regarding inpatient behavioral health care. 

TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MATTERS 

Sec. 201. Transparency of mental health care services. 

Sec. 202. Expansion of Vet Center program to include furnishing counseling to 

certain members of the Armed Forces and their family members. 

Sec. 203. Authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish mental health 

care through facilities other than Vet Centers to immediate 

family members of members of the Armed Forces deployed in 

connection with a contingency operation. 

Sec. 204. Organization of the Readjustment Counseling Service in Department 

of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 205. Recruiting mental health providers for furnishing of mental health 

services on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs without compensation from the Department. 


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Sec. 206. Reimbursement of physicians and dentists for expenses relating to 

board certification or recertification. 

Sec. 207. Peer support. 

1 TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF 

2 DEFENSE MATTERS 

3 SEC. 101. ENHANCEMENT OF OVERSIGHT AND MANAGE4 MENT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUI5 CIDE PREVENTION AND RESILIENCE PRO6 GRAMS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall, 

8 acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Per9 sonnel and Readiness, establish within the Office of the 

10 Secretary of Defense a position with responsibility for 

11 oversight and management of all suicide prevention and 

12 resilience programs and all preventative behavioral health 

13 programs of the Department of Defense (including those 

14 of the military departments and the Armed Forces). 

15 (b) SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES.—The individual 

16 serving in the position established pursuant to subsection 

17 (a) shall have the responsibilities as follows: 

18 (1) To establish a uniform definition of resil19 iency for use in the suicide prevention and resilience 

20 programs and preventative behavioral health pro21 grams of the Department of Defense (including 

22 those of the military departments and the Armed 

23 Forces). 


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1 (2) In consultation with the National Center for 

2 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder of the Department 

3 of Veterans Affairs and other appropriate public and 

4 private agencies and entities, to require the use of 

5 clinical best practices in mental health care, suicide 

6 prevention programs, and resilience programs of the 

7 Department of Defense, including the diagnosis and 

8 treatment of behavioral health disorders. 

9 (3) To oversee and manage the comprehensive 

10 program on the prevention of suicide among mem11 bers of the Armed Forces required by section 102. 

12 SEC. 102. COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM ON PREVENTION OF 

13 SUICIDE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 

14 FORCES. 

15 (a) COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The 

16 Secretary of Defense shall, acting through the Assistant 

17 Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, develop and im18 plement within the Department of Defense a comprehen19 sive program on the prevention of suicide among members 

20 of the Armed Forces. In developing the program, the Sec21 retary shall consider recommendations from the oper22 ational elements of the Armed Forces regarding the feasi23 bility of the implementation and execution of particular 

24 elements of the program. 


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1 (b) ELEMENTS.—The comprehensive program re2 quired by subsection (a) shall include elements to achieve 

3 the following: 

4 (1) To raise awareness among members of the 

5 Armed Forces about mental health conditions and 

6 the stigma associated with mental health conditions 

7 and mental health care. 

8 (2) To provide members of the Armed Forces 

9 generally, members of the Armed Forces in super10 visory positions (including officers in command bil11 lets and non-commissioned officers), and medical 

12 personnel of the Armed Forces and the Department 

13 of Defense with effective means of identifying mem14 bers of the Armed Forces who are at risk for suicide 

15 (including enhanced means for early identification 

16 and treatment of such members), including through 

17 training required by section 103. 

18 (3) To provide members of the Armed Forces 

19 who are at risk of suicide with continuous access to 

20 suicide prevention services, including suicide crisis 

21 services. 

22 (4) To evaluate and assess the effectiveness of 

23 the suicide prevention and resilience programs and 

24 preventative behavioral health programs of the De25 partment of Defense (including those of the military 


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1 departments and the Armed Forces), including the 

2 development of metrics for that purpose. 

3 (5) To evaluate and assess the current diag4 nostic tools and treatment methods in the programs 

5 referred to in paragraph (4) in order to ensure clin6 ical best practices are used in such programs. 

7 (6) To ensure that the programs referred to in 

8 paragraph (4) incorporate evidenced-based practices 

9 when available. 

10 (7) To provide for the training of mental health 

11 care providers on evidence-based therapies in con12 nection with suicide prevention. 

13 (8) To establish training standards for behav14 ioral health care providers in order to ensure that 

15 such providers receive training on clinical best prac16 tices and evidence-based treatments as information 

17 on such practices and treatments becomes available, 

18 and to ensure such standards are met. 

19 (9) To provide for the integration of mental 

20 health screenings and suicide risk and prevention for 

21 members of the Armed Forces into the delivery of 

22 primary care for such members. 

23 (10) To ensure appropriate responses to at24 tempted or completed suicides among members of 

25 the Armed Forces, including guidance and training 


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1 to assist commanders in addressing incidents of at2 tempted or completed suicide within their units. 

3 (11) To ensure the protection of the privacy of 

4 members of the Armed Forces seeking or receiving 

5 treatment relating to suicide. 

6 (12) Such other matters as the Secretary of 

7 Defense considers appropriate in connection with the 

8 prevention of suicide among members of the Armed 

9 Forces. 

10 (c) CONSULTATION.—In developing and imple11 menting the comprehensive program required by sub12 section (a), the Assistant Secretary shall consult with ap13 propriate officials and elements of the Department of De14 fense, appropriate centers of excellence within the Depart15 ment of Defense, and other public and private entities with 

16 expertise in mental health and suicide prevention. 

17 (d) IMPLEMENTATION BY THE ARMED FORCES.—In 

18 implementing the comprehensive program required by sub19 section (a) with respect to an Armed Force, the Secretary 

20 of the military department concerned may, in consultation 

21 with the Assistant Secretary and with the approval of the 

22 Secretary of Defense, modify particular elements of the 

23 program in order to adapt the program appropriately to 

24 the unique culture and elements of that Armed Force. 


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1 (e) QUALITY ASSURANCE.—In developing and imple2 menting the comprehensive program required by sub3 section (a), the Assistant Secretary shall develop and im4 plement appropriate mechanisms to provide for the over5 sight and management of the program, including quality 

6 measures to assess the efficacy of the program in pre7 venting suicide among members of the Armed Forces. 

8 SEC. 103. ENHANCEMENT OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION 

9 FOR PHYSICIANS, MENTAL HEALTH CARE 

10 PROVIDERS, AND RELATED PERSONNEL ON 

11 IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF BE12 HAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS. 

13 (a) PHYSICIANS.—The Secretary of Defense shall en14 sure that the continuing medical education provided physi15 cians in the military medical treatment system includes 

16 education and training on the triage and referral of indi17 viduals with mental health conditions. 

18 (b) MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.—The Sec19 retary of Defense shall develop and implement continuing 

20 education program requirements for mental health care 

21 providers and behavioral health care providers in the mili22 tary medical treatment system in order to ensure that 

23 such providers keep current on best clinical practices for 

24 the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health disorders 

25 in members of the Armed Forces. 


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1 (c) COUNSELORS AND RELATED PERSONNEL.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 

3 shall develop and implement throughout the Armed 

4 Forces a program of training for the members of the 

5 Armed Forces and personnel of the Department of 

6 Defense described in paragraph (2) in order to fa7 miliarize such members and personnel with the fol8 lowing: 

9 (A) The signs and symptoms of behavioral 

10 health disorders that manifest frequently in 

11 members of the Armed Forces. 

12 (B) The courses of action to be undertaken 

13 by such personnel who detect such signs and 

14 symptoms in members of the Armed Forces. 

15 (2) COVERED MEMBERS AND PERSONNEL.— 

16 The members of the Armed Forces and personnel of 

17 the Department of Defense described in this para18 graph are the following: 

19 (A) Physician assistants in the military 

20 medical treatment system. 

21 (B) Medics. 

22 (C) Military chaplains. 

23 (D) Such other members of the Armed 

24 Forces or civilian personnel of the Department 


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1 of Defense as the Secretary shall designate for 

2 purposes of this subsection. 

3 SEC. 104. LIMITATION ON DISCLOSURE OF MENTAL 

4 HEALTH CONDITIONS OR TREATMENT OR RE5 QUESTS FOR TREATMENT OF MEMBERS OF 

6 THE ARMED FORCES. 

7 (a) LIMITATION.—A medical or mental health care 

8 provider in the military medical treatment system may not 

9 disclose a mental health condition of a member of the 

10 Armed Forces, treatment of a member for a mental health 

11 condition, or a request of a member for treatment of a 

12 mental health condition, except as provided in subsection 

13 (b). 

14 (b) EXCEPTIONS.—A medical or mental health care 

15 provider may make a disclosure described by subsection 

16 (a) if— 

17 (1) the disclosure to another covered entity (as 

18 that term is defined for purposes of the Health In19 surance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) 

20 is necessary; 

21 (2) the member concerned requests the disclo22 sure; 

23 (3) the member concerned does not meet the 

24 minimum standards for deployment prescribed under 

25 section 1074f(f) of title 10, United States Code, at 


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1 the time of the disclosure, regardless of the deploy2 ment status or plans of the member; or 

3 (4) the disclosure is necessary in an emergency 

4 to protect the life or safety of the member concerned 

5 or others. 

6 SEC. 105. SHARING BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

7 AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

8 OF RECORDS AND INFORMATION RETAINED 

9 UNDER THE MEDICAL TRACKING SYSTEM 

10 FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES DE11 PLOYED OVERSEAS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense and the 

13 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly enter into a 

14 memorandum of understanding providing for the sharing 

15 by the Department of Defense with the Department of 

16 Veterans Affairs of the results of examinations and other 

17 records on members of the Armed Forces that are retained 

18 and maintained with respect to the medical tracking sys19 tem for members deployed overseas under section 1074f(c) 

20 of title 10, United States Code. 

21 (b) CESSATION UPON IMPLEMENTATION OF ELEC22 TRONIC HEALTH RECORD.—The sharing required pursu23 ant to subsection (a) shall cease on the date on which the 

24 Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Af25 fairs jointly certify to Congress that the Secretaries have 


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1 fully implemented an integrated electronic health record 

2 for members of the Armed Forces that is fully interoper3 able between the Department of Defense and the Depart4 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

5 SEC. 106. PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 

6 FORCES IN PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING 

7 PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VET8 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

9 (a) PARTICIPATION.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 

11 and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly 

12 enter into a memorandum of understanding pro13 viding for members of the Armed Forces described 

14 in subsection (b) to volunteer or be considered for 

15 employment as peer counselors under the following: 

16 (A) The peer support counseling program 

17 carried out by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

18 under subsection (j) of section 1720F of title 

19 38, United States Code, as part of the com20 prehensive program for suicide prevention 

21 among veterans under subsection (a) of such 

22 section. 

23 (B) The peer support counseling program 

24 carried out by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

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1 erans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 

2 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1150; 38 

3 U.S.C. 1712A note). 

4 (2) TRAINING.—Any member participating in a 

5 peer support counseling program under paragraph 

6 (1) shall receive the training for peer counselors 

7 under section 1720F(j)(2) of title 38, United States 

8 Code, or section 304(c) of the Caregivers and Vet9 erans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, as ap10 plicable, before performing peer support counseling 

11 duties under such program. 

12 (b) COVERED MEMBERS.—Members of the Armed 

13 Forces described in this subsection are the following: 

14 (1) Members of the reserve components of the 

15 Armed Forces who are demobilizing after deploy16 ment in a theater of combat operations, including, in 

17 particular, members who participated in combat 

18 against the enemy while so deployed. 

19 (2) Members of the regular components of the 

20 Armed Forces separating from active duty who have 

21 been deployed in a theater of combat operations in 

22 which such members participated in combat against 

23 the enemy. 


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1 SEC. 107. RESEARCH AND MEDICAL PRACTICE ON MENTAL 

2 HEALTH CONDITIONS. 

3 (a) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ORGANIZATION ON

4 RESEARCH AND PRACTICE.—The Secretary of Defense 

5 shall establish within the Department of Defense an orga6 nization to carry out the responsibilities specified in sub7 section (b). 

8 (b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The organization estab9 lished under subsection (a) shall— 

10 (1) carry out programs and activities designed 

11 to provide for the translation of research on the di12 agnosis and treatment of mental health conditions 

13 into policy on medical practices; 

14 (2) make recommendations to the Assistant 

15 Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on the 

16 translation of such research into the policies of the 

17 Department of Defense on medical practices with re18 spect to members of the Armed Forces; and 

19 (3) discharge such other responsibilities relating 

20 to research and medical practices on mental health 

21 conditions, and the policies of the Department on 

22 such practices with respect to members of the 

23 Armed Forces, as the Secretary or the Assistant 

24 Secretary shall specify for purposes of this section. 

25 (c) REPORTS.— 


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1 (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 120 days 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec3 retary shall submit to Congress a report on the or4 ganization required by subsection (a). The report 

5 shall include a description of the organization and a 

6 plan for implementing the requirements of this sec7 tion. 

8 (2) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary shall 

9 submit to Congress each year a report on the activi10 ties of the organization established under subsection 

11 (a) during the preceding year. Each report shall in12 clude the following: 

13 (A) A summary description of the activities 

14 of the organization during the preceding year. 

15 (B) A description of the recommendations 

16 made by the organization to the Assistant Sec17 retary under subsection (b)(2) during the year, 

18 and a description of the actions undertaken (or 

19 to be undertaken) by the Assistant Secretary in 

20 response to such recommendations. 

21 (C) Such other matters relating to the ac22 tivities of the organization, including rec23 ommendations for additional legislative or ad24 ministrative action, as the Secretary, in conVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 Jun 28, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3340.IS S3340

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1 sultation with the Assistant Secretary, con2 siders appropriate. 

3 SEC. 108. QUALITY REVIEW OF MEDICAL EVALUATION 

4 BOARDS, PHYSICAL EVALUATION BOARDS, 

5 AND PHYSICAL EVALUATION BOARD LIAISON 

6 OFFICERS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 

8 standardize, assess, and monitor the quality assurance 

9 programs of the military departments to evaluate the fol10 lowing in the performance of their duties (including duties 

11 under chapter 61 of title 10, United States Code): 

12 (1) Medical Evaluation Boards (MEBs). 

13 (2) Physical Evaluation Boards (PEBs). 

14 (3) Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officers 

15 (PEBLOs). 

16 (b) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the quality as17 surance program shall be as follows: 

18 (1) To ensure accuracy and consistency in the 

19 determinations and decisions of Medical Evaluation 

20 Boards and Physical Evaluation Boards. 

21 (2) To otherwise monitor and sustain proper 

22 performance of the duties of Medical Evaluation 

23 Boards and Physical Evaluation Boards, and of 

24 Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officers. 


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1 (3) Such other objectives as the Secretary shall 

2 specify for purposes of the quality assurance pro3 gram. 

4 SEC. 109. COMPLIANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

5 WITH REQUIREMENT FOR USE OF DEPART6 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SCHEDULE 

7 FOR RATING DISABILITIES IN DETERMINA8 TIONS OF DISABILITY OF MEMBERS OF THE 

9 ARMED FORCES. 

10 (a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 

11 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

12 of Defense shall submit to Congress a report setting forth 

13 a comprehensive assessment whether the Secretaries of the 

14 military departments (and the policies, regulations, and 

15 directives of the military departments) are fully compliant 

16 with the requirement in section 1216a of title 10, United 

17 States Code, for the use of the Department of Veterans 

18 Affairs schedule for rating disabilities in making deter19 minations of disability of members of the Armed Forces 

20 for purposes of chapter 61 of that title. 

21 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENT FOLLOWING DETER22 MINATION OF LACK OF FULL COMPLIANCE.—If the as23 sessment of the Secretary in the report required by sub24 section (a) is that the Secretaries of the military depart25 ments are not fully compliant with the requirement deVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 Jun 28, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3340.IS S3340

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1 scribed in that subsection, the report shall include a com2 prehensive description of the actions to be undertaken by 

3 the Secretaries of the military departments to achieve full 

4 compliance with the requirement, including a schedule for 

5 such actions. 

6 SEC. 110. DISPOSAL OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. 

7 The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Admin8 istration shall enter into a memorandum of understanding 

9 with the Secretary of Defense establishing procedures 

10 under which a member of the Armed Forces may deliver 

11 a controlled substance to a member of the Armed Forces 

12 or an employee of the Department of Defense to be dis13 posed of in accordance with section 302(g) of the Con14 trolled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 822(g)). 

15 SEC. 111. ASSESSMENT OF ADEQUACY OF MENTAL HEALTH 

16 CARE BENEFITS UNDER THE TRICARE PRO17 GRAM. 

18 (a) INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT REQUIRED.—Not 

19 later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

20 this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation 

21 with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, enter 

22 into a contract with an appropriate independent entity to 

23 assess whether the mental health care benefits available 

24 for members of the Armed Forces and other covered bene25 ficiaries under the TRICARE program are adequate to 


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1 meet the needs of such members and beneficiaries for 

2 mental health care. 

3 (b) REPORT.—The contract required by subsection 

4 (a) shall require the entity conducting the assessment re5 quired by the contract to submit to the Secretary of De6 fense, and to the congressional defense committees, a re7 port setting forth the results of the assessment by not 

8 later than 180 days after the date of entry into the con9 tract. If the entity determines pursuant to the assessment 

10 that the mental health care benefits available for members 

11 of the Armed Forces and other covered beneficiaries under 

12 the TRICARE program are not adequate to meet the 

13 needs of such members and beneficiaries for mental health 

14 care, the report shall include such recommendations for 

15 legislative or administrative action as the entity considers 

16 appropriate to remediate any identified inadequacy. 

17 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

18 (1) The term ‘‘congressional defense commit19 tees’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

20 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code. 

21 (2) The term ‘‘covered beneficiaries’’ has the 

22 meaning given that term in section 1072(5) of title 

23 10, United States Code. 


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1 (3) The term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the 

2 meaning given that term in section 1072(7) of title 

3 10, United States Code. 

4 SEC. 112. AUTHORITY TO EXEMPT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 

5 CARE PROVIDERS UNDER THE TRICARE PRO6 GRAM FROM STATE LICENSURE REQUIRE7 MENTS FOR PROVISION OF BEHAVIORAL 

8 HEALTH CARE TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 

9 FORCES AND DEPENDENTS. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may, 

11 subject to subsection (b), treat any licensed behavioral 

12 health care provider or category of licensed behavioral 

13 health care providers under the TRICARE program as a 

14 health-care professional or professionals exempt from laws 

15 regarding the licensure of health care professionals in ac16 cordance with section 1094(d) of title 10, United States 

17 Code, if the Secretary determines that such treatment is 

18 necessary for purposes as follows: 

19 (1) To ensure continuity in the provision of be20 havioral health care to a member of the Armed 

21 Forces or the member’s dependents following a per22 manent change of station or other relocation of the 

23 member and dependents to another State, including 

24 through the provision of such care by tele-health or 

25 other remote delivery mechanisms. 


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1 (2) To ensure access to behavioral health care 

2 under the TRICARE program in areas otherwise 

3 unserved or underserved by behavioral health care 

4 providers under that program. 

5 (b) LIMITATION.—A behavioral health care provider 

6 may not be exempted under subsection (a) from laws de7 scribed in that subsection unless the health care pro8 vider— 

9 (1) is licensed as a behavioral health care pro10 vider by a State; and 

11 (2) is authorized under the TRICARE program 

12 to act as a behavioral health care provider through13 out the TRICARE program. 

14 (c) TRICARE PROGRAM DEFINED.—In this section, 

15 the term ‘‘TRICARE program’’ has the meaning given 

16 that term in section 1072(7) of title 10, United States 

17 Code. 

18 SEC. 113. REPORT ON ADEQUACY OF CAPACITY OF THE 

19 MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT SYSTEM RE20 GARDING INPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 

21 CARE. 

22 (a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 

23 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

24 of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense com25 mittees a report setting forth an assessment by the SecVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 Jun 28, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3340.IS S3340

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1 retary of the adequacy of the capacity of the military med2 ical treatment system to meet the needs of members of 

3 the Armed Forces for inpatient behavioral health care, 

4 with a particular focus on facilities under that system that 

5 support members of the Armed Forces on deployment ro6 tation. 

7 (b) CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES DE8 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘congressional defense 

9 committees’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

10 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code. 

11 TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF 

12 VETERANS AFFAIRS MATTERS 

13 SEC. 201. TRANSPARENCY OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERV14 ICES. 

15 (a) MEASUREMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE

16 SERVICES.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31, 

18 2013, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop 

19 and implement a comprehensive set of measures to 

20 assess mental health care services furnished by the 

21 Department of Veterans Affairs. 

22 (2) ELEMENTS.—The measures developed and 

23 implemented under paragraph (1) shall provide an 

24 accurate and comprehensive assessment of the fol25 lowing: 


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1 (A) The timeliness of the furnishing of 

2 mental health care by the Department. 

3 (B) The satisfaction of patients who re4 ceive mental health care services furnished by 

5 the Department. 

6 (C) The capacity of the Department to fur7 nish mental health care. 

8 (D) The availability and furnishing of evi9 dence-based therapies by the Department. 

10 (b) GUIDELINES FOR STAFFING MENTAL HEALTH

11 CARE SERVICES.—Not later than December 31, 2013, the 

12 Secretary shall develop and implement guidelines for the 

13 staffing of general and specialty mental health care serv14 ices, including at community-based outpatient clinics. 

15 Such guidelines shall include productivity standards for 

16 providers of mental health care. 

17 (c) STUDY COMMITTEE.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

19 Affairs shall seek to enter into a contract with the 

20 National Academy of Sciences to create a study 

21 committee— 

22 (A) to consult with the Secretary on the 

23 Secretary’s development and implementation of 

24 the measures and guidelines required by sub25 sections (a) and (b); and 


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1 (B) to conduct an assessment and provide 

2 an analysis and recommendations on the state 

3 of Department mental health services. 

4 (2) FUNCTIONS.—In entering into the contract 

5 described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, with 

6 respect to paragraph (1)(B), include in such con7 tract a provision for the study committee— 

8 (A) to conduct a comprehensive assessment 

9 of barriers to access to mental health care by 

10 veterans who served in the Armed Forces in 

11 Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi 

12 Freedom, or Operation New Dawn; 

13 (B) to assess the quality of the mental 

14 health care being provided to such veterans (in15 cluding the extent to which veterans are af16 forded choices with respect to modes of treat17 ment) through site visits to facilities of the Vet18 erans Health Administration (including at least 

19 one site visit in each Veterans Integrated Serv20 ice Network), evaluating studies of patient out21 comes, and other appropriate means; 

22 (C) to assess whether, and the extent to 

23 which, veterans who served in the Armed 

24 Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom, Oper25 ation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn 


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1 are being offered a full range of necessary men2 tal health services at Department health care 

3 facilities, including early intervention services 

4 for hazardous drinking, relationship problems, 

5 and other behaviors that create a risk for the 

6 development of a chronic mental health condi7 tion; 

8 (D) to conduct surveys or have access to 

9 Department-administered surveys of— 

10 (i) providers of Department mental 

11 health services; 

12 (ii) veterans who served in the Armed 

13 Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom, 

14 Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation 

15 New Dawn who are receiving mental 

16 health care furnished by the Department; 

17 and 

18 (iii) eligible veterans who served in the 

19 Armed Forces in Operation Enduring 

20 Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Op21 eration New Dawn who are not using De22 partment health care services to assess 

23 those barriers described in subparagraph 

24 (A); and 


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1 (E) to provide to the Secretary, on the 

2 basis of its assessments as delineated in sub3 paragraphs (A) through (C), specific, detailed 

4 recommendations— 

5 (i) for overcoming barriers, and im6 proving access, to timely, effective mental 

7 health care at Department health care fa8 cilities (or, where Department facilities 

9 cannot provide such care, through contract 

10 arrangements under existing law); and 

11 (ii) to improve the effectiveness and 

12 efficiency of mental health services fur13 nished by the Secretary. 

14 (3) PARTICIPATION BY FORMER OFFICIALS AND

15 EMPLOYEES OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRA16 TION.—The Secretary shall ensure that any contract 

17 entered into under paragraph (1) provides for inclu18 sion on any subcommittee which participates in con19 ducting the assessments and formulating the rec20 ommendations provided for in paragraph (2) at least 

21 one former official of the Veterans Health Adminis22 tration and at least two former employees of the 

23 Veterans Health Administration who were providers 

24 of mental health care. 


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1 (4) PERIODIC REPORTS TO SECRETARY.—In en2 tering into the contract described in paragraph (1), 

3 the Secretary shall, with respect to paragraph 

4 (1)(A), include in such contract a provision for the 

5 submittal to the Secretary of periodic reports and 

6 provision of other consultation to the Secretary by 

7 the study committee to assist the Secretary in car8 rying out subsections (a) and (b). 

9 (5) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 

10 30 days after receiving a report under paragraph 

11 (4), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 

12 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 

13 on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 

14 a report on the plans of the Secretary to implement 

15 such recommendations submitted to the Secretary by 

16 the study committee as the Secretary considers ap17 propriate. Such report shall include a description of 

18 each recommendation submitted to the Secretary 

19 that the Secretary does not plan to carry out and an 

20 explanation of why the Secretary does not plan to 

21 carry out such recommendation. 

22 (d) PUBLICATION.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make 

24 available to the public on an Internet website of the 

25 Department the following: 


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1 (A) The measures and guidelines developed 

2 and implemented under this section. 

3 (B) An assessment of the performance of 

4 the Department using such measures and 

5 guidelines. 

6 (2) QUARTERLY UPDATES.—The Secretary 

7 shall update the measures, guidelines, and assess8 ment made available to the public under paragraph 

9 (1) not less frequently than quarterly. 

10 (e) SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than June 30, 

12 2013, and not less frequently than twice each year 

13 thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Com14 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 

15 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

16 Representatives a report on the Secretary’s progress 

17 in developing and implementing the measures and 

18 guidelines required by this section. 

19 (2) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted under 

20 paragraph (1) shall include the following: 

21 (A) A description of the development and 

22 implementation of the measures required by 

23 subsection (a) and the guidelines required by 

24 subsection (b). 


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1 (B) A description of the progress made by 

2 the Secretary in developing and implementing 

3 such measures and guidelines. 

4 (C) An assessment of the mental health 

5 care services furnished by the Department of 

6 Veterans Affairs, using the measures developed 

7 and implemented under subsection (a). 

8 (D) An assessment of the effectiveness of 

9 the guidelines developed and implemented under 

10 subsection (b). 

11 (E) Such recommendations for legislative 

12 or administrative action as the Secretary may 

13 have to improve the effectiveness and efficiency 

14 of the mental health care services furnished 

15 under laws administered by the Secretary. 

16 (f) IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days be18 fore the date on which the Secretary begins imple19 menting the measures and guidelines required by 

20 this section, the Secretary shall submit to the com21 mittees described in subsection (e)(1) a report on 

22 the Secretary’s planned implementation of such 

23 measures and guidelines. 

24 (2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para25 graph (1) shall include the following: 


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1 (A) A detailed description of the measures 

2 and guidelines that the Secretary plans to im3 plement under this section. 

4 (B) A description of the rationale for each 

5 measure and guideline the Secretary plans to 

6 implement under this section. 

7 (C) A discussion of each measure and 

8 guideline that the Secretary considered under 

9 this section but chose not to implement. 

10 (D) The number of current vacancies in 

11 mental health care provider positions in the De12 partment. 

13 (E) An assessment of how many additional 

14 positions are needed to meet current or ex15 pected demand for mental health services fur16 nished by the Department. 

17 SEC. 202. EXPANSION OF VET CENTER PROGRAM TO IN18 CLUDE FURNISHING COUNSELING TO CER19 TAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND 

20 THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. 

21 Section 1712A of title 38, United States Code, is 

22 amended— 

23 (1) in subsection (a)— 

24 (A) in paragraph (1)— 


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1 (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

2 ‘‘Upon the request’’ and all that follows 

3 through the period at the end and insert4 ing the following: ‘‘Upon the request of 

5 any individual referred to in subparagraph 

6 (C), the Secretary shall furnish counseling, 

7 including by furnishing counseling through 

8 a Vet Center, to the individual— 

9 ‘‘(i) in the case of an individual referred to in 

10 clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (C), to as11 sist the individual in readjusting to civilian life; and 

12 ‘‘(ii) in the case of an individual referred to in 

13 clause (v) of such subparagraph who is a family 

14 member of a veteran or member described in such 

15 clause— 

16 ‘‘(I) in the case of a member who is de17 ployed in a theater of combat operations or an 

18 area at a time during which hostilities are oc19 curring in that area, during such deployment to 

20 assist such individual in coping with such de21 ployment; and 

22 ‘‘(II) in the case of a veteran or member 

23 who is readjusting to civilian life, to the degree 

24 that counseling furnished to such individual is 


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1 found to aid in the readjustment of such vet2 eran or member to civilian life.’’; and 

3 (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 

4 inserting the following new subparagraphs: 

5 ‘‘(B) Counseling furnished to an individual under 

6 subparagraph (A) may include a comprehensive individual 

7 assessment of the individual’s psychological, social, and 

8 other characteristics to ascertain whether— 

9 ‘‘(i) in the case of an individual referred to in 

10 clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (C), such 

11 individual has difficulties associated with readjusting 

12 to civilian life; and 

13 ‘‘(ii) in the case of an individual referred to in 

14 clause (v) of such subparagraph, such individual has 

15 difficulties associated with— 

16 ‘‘(I) coping with the deployment of a mem17 ber described in subclause (I) of such clause; or 

18 ‘‘(II) readjustment to civilian life of a vet19 eran or member described in subclause (II) of 

20 such clause. 

21 ‘‘(C) Subparagraph (A) applies to the following indi22 viduals: 

23 ‘‘(i) Any individual who is a veteran or member 

24 of the Armed Forces, including a member of a re25 serve component of the Armed Forces, who served 


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1 on active duty in a theater of combat operations or 

2 an area at a time during which hostilities occurred 

3 in that area. 

4 ‘‘(ii) Any individual who is a veteran or member 

5 of the Armed Forces, including a member of a re6 serve component of the Armed Forces, who provided 

7 direct emergency medical or mental health care, or 

8 mortuary services to the causalities of combat oper9 ations or hostilities, but who at the time was located 

10 outside the theater of combat operations or area of 

11 hostilities. 

12 ‘‘(iii) Any individual who is a veteran or mem13 ber of the Armed Forces, including a member of a 

14 reserve component of the Armed Forces, who en15 gaged in combat with an enemy of the United States 

16 or against an opposing military force in a theater of 

17 combat operations or an area at a time during which 

18 hostilities occurred in that area by remotely control19 ling an unmanned aerial vehicle, notwithstanding 

20 whether the physical location of such veteran or 

21 member during such combat was within such theater 

22 of combat operations or area. 

23 ‘‘(iv) Any individual who received counseling 

24 under this section before the date of the enactment 


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1 of the Mental Health Access to Continued Care and 

2 Enhancement of Support Services Act of 2012. 

3 ‘‘(v) Any individual who is a family member of 

4 any— 

5 ‘‘(I) member of the Armed Forces, includ6 ing a member of a reserve component of the 

7 Armed Forces, who is serving on active duty in 

8 a theater of combat operations or in an area at 

9 a time during which hostilities are occurring in 

10 that area; or 

11 ‘‘(II) veteran or member of the Armed 

12 Forces described in this subparagraph.’’; 

13 (B) by striking paragraph (2); 

14 (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 

15 paragraph (2); and 

16 (D) in paragraph (2), as redesignated by 

17 subparagraph (C)— 

18 (i) by striking ‘‘a veteran described in 

19 paragraph (1)(B)(iii)’’ and inserting ‘‘an 

20 individual described in paragraph (1)(C)’’; 

21 and 

22 (ii) by striking ‘‘the veteran a prelimi23 nary general mental health assessment’’ 

24 and inserting ‘‘the individual a comprehenVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 Jun 28, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3340.IS S3340

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1 sive individual assessment as described in 

2 paragraph (1)(B)’’; 

3 (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘physician 

4 or psychologist’’ each place it appears and inserting 

5 ‘‘licensed or certified mental health care provider’’; 

6 (3) in subsection (g)— 

7 (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 

8 follows: 

9 ‘‘(1) The term ‘Vet Center’ means a facility 

10 which is operated by the Department for the provi11 sion of services under this section and which is situ12 ated apart from Department general health care fa13 cilities.’’; and 

14 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

15 paragraph: 

16 ‘‘(3) The term ‘family member’, with respect to 

17 a veteran or member of the Armed Forces, means an 

18 individual who— 

19 ‘‘(A) is a member of the family of the vet20 eran or member, including— 

21 ‘‘(i) a parent; 

22 ‘‘(ii) a spouse; 

23 ‘‘(iii) a child; 

24 ‘‘(iv) a step-family member; and 

25 ‘‘(v) an extended family member; or 


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1 ‘‘(B) lives with the veteran or member but 

2 is not a member of the family of the veteran or 

3 member.’’; and 

4 (4) by redesignating subsection (g), as amended 

5 by paragraph (3), as subsection (h) and inserting 

6 after subsection (f) the following new subsection (g): 

7 ‘‘(g) In carrying out this section and in furtherance 

8 of the Secretary’s responsibility to carry out outreach ac9 tivities under chapter 63 of this title, the Secretary may 

10 provide for and facilitate the participation of personnel 

11 employed by the Secretary to provide services under this 

12 section in recreational programs that are— 

13 ‘‘(1) designed to encourage the readjustment of 

14 veterans described in subsection (a)(1)(C); and 

15 ‘‘(2) operated by any organization named in or 

16 approved under section 5902 of this title.’’. 

17 SEC. 203. AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AF18 FAIRS TO FURNISH MENTAL HEALTH CARE 

19 THROUGH FACILITIES OTHER THAN VET 

20 CENTERS TO IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS 

21 OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES DE22 PLOYED IN CONNECTION WITH A CONTIN23 GENCY OPERATION. 

24 (a) AUTHORITY.—Subject to the availability of ap25 propriations, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in addition 


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1 to furnishing mental health care to family members of 

2 members of the Armed Forces through Vet Centers under 

3 section 1712A of title 38, United States Code, may fur4 nish mental health care to immediate family members of 

5 members of the Armed Forces while such members are 

6 deployed in connection with a contingency operation (as 

7 defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) 

8 through Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, 

9 telemental health modalities, and such community, non10 profit, private, and other third parties as the Secretary 

11 considers appropriate. 

12 (b) NO ELIGIBILITY FOR TRAVEL REIMBURSE13 MENT.—A family member to whom the Secretary fur14 nishes mental health care under subsection (a) shall not 

15 be eligible for payments or allowances under section 111 

16 of title 38, United States Code, for such mental health 

17 care. 

18 (c) VET CENTER DEFINED.—In this section, the 

19 term ‘‘Vet Center’’ has the meaning given the term in sec20 tion 1712A(g) of title 38, United States Code, as amended 

21 by section 2(3). 


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1 SEC. 204. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUN2 SELING SERVICE IN DEPARTMENT OF VET3 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 73 of title 

5 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

6 the following new section: 

7 ‘‘§ 7309. Readjustment Counseling Service 

8 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is in the Veterans Health 

9 Administration a Readjustment Counseling Service. The 

10 Readjustment Counseling Service shall provide readjust11 ment counseling and associated services to individuals in 

12 accordance with section 1712A of this title. 

13 ‘‘(b) CHIEF OFFICER.—(1) The head of the Read14 justment Counseling Service shall be the Chief Officer of 

15 the Readjustment Counseling Service (in this section the 

16 ‘Chief Officer’), who shall report directly to the Under 

17 Secretary for Health. 

18 ‘‘(2) The Chief Officer shall be appointed by the 

19 Under Secretary for Health from among individuals 

20 who— 

21 ‘‘(A)(i) are psychologists who hold a diploma as 

22 a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology from 

23 an authority approved by the American Psycho24 logical Association and who have successfully under25 gone an internship approved by that association; 


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1 ‘‘(ii) are holders of a master in social work de2 gree; or 

3 ‘‘(iii) hold such other advanced degrees related 

4 to mental health as the Secretary considers appro5 priate; 

6 ‘‘(B) have at least three years of experience 

7 providing direct counseling services or outreach serv8 ices; 

9 ‘‘(C) have at least three years of experience ad10 ministrating direct counseling services or outreach 

11 services; 

12 ‘‘(D) meet the quality standards and require13 ments of the Department; and 

14 ‘‘(E) are veterans who served in combat as 

15 members of the Armed Forces. 

16 ‘‘(c) STRUCTURE.—(1) The Readjustment Coun17 seling Service is a distinct organizational element within 

18 Veterans Health Administration. 

19 ‘‘(2) The Service shall provide counseling and services 

20 as described in subsection (a). 

21 ‘‘(3) The Chief Officer shall have direct authority 

22 over all Readjustment Counseling Service staff and assets, 

23 including Vet Centers. 

24 ‘‘(d) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—(1) Amounts for the ac25 tivities of the Readjustment Counseling Service, including 


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1 the operations of its Vet Centers, shall be derived from 

2 amounts appropriated for the Veterans Health Adminis3 tration for medical care. 

4 ‘‘(2) Amounts for activities of the Readjustment 

5 Counseling Service, including the operations of its Vet 

6 Centers, shall not be allocated through the Veterans Equi7 table Resource Allocation system. 

8 ‘‘(3) In each budget request submitted for the De9 partment of Veterans Affairs by the President to Congress 

10 under section 1105 of title 31, the budget request for the 

11 Readjustment Counseling Service shall be listed sepa12 rately. 

13 ‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—(1) Not later than March 15 

14 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 

15 on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

16 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

17 on the activities of the Readjustment Counseling Service 

18 during the preceding calendar year. 

19 ‘‘(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 

20 shall include, with respect to the period covered by the 

21 report, the following: 

22 ‘‘(A) A summary of the activities of the Read23 justment Counseling Service, including Vet Centers. 

24 ‘‘(B) A description of the workload and addi25 tional treatment capacity of the Vet Centers, includVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 Jun 28, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3340.IS S3340

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1 ing, for each Vet Center, the ratio of the number of 

2 full-time equivalent employees at such Vet Center 

3 and the number of individuals who received services 

4 or assistance at such Vet Center. 

5 ‘‘(C) A detailed analysis of demand for and 

6 unmet need for readjustment counseling services and 

7 the Secretary’s plan for meeting such unmet need. 

8 ‘‘(f) VET CENTER DEFINED.—In this section, the 

9 term ‘Vet Center’ has the meaning given the term in sec10 tion 1712A(g) of this title.’’. 

11 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 7305 of 

12 such title is amended— 

13 (1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para14 graph (8); and 

15 (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the fol16 lowing new paragraph (7): 

17 ‘‘(7) A Readjustment Counseling Service.’’. 

18 SEC. 205. RECRUITING MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS FOR 

19 FURNISHING OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 

20 ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VET21 ERANS AFFAIRS WITHOUT COMPENSATION 

22 FROM THE DEPARTMENT. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

24 shall carry out a national program of outreach to societies, 

25 community organizations, or government entities in order 


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1 to recruit mental health providers, who meet the quality 

2 standards and requirements of the Department of Vet3 erans Affairs, to provide mental health services for the De4 partment on a part-time, without-compensation basis, 

5 under section 7405 of title 38, United States Code. 

6 (b) PARTNERING WITH AND DEVELOPING COMMU7 NITY ENTITIES.—In carrying out the program required by 

8 subsection (a), the Secretary may partner with a commu9 nity entity or assist in the development of a community 

10 entity, including by entering into an agreement under sec11 tion 8153 of title 38, United States Code, that provides 

12 strategic coordination of the societies, community organi13 zations, and government entities described in subsection 

14 (a) in order to maximize the availability and efficient deliv15 ery of mental health services to veterans by such societies, 

16 community organizations, and government entities. 

17 (c) MILITARY CULTURE TRAINING.—In carrying out 

18 the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary 

19 shall provide training to mental health providers to ensure 

20 that clinicians who provide mental health services as de21 scribed in such subsection have sufficient understanding 

22 of military and service specific culture, combat experience, 

23 and other factors that are unique to the experience of vet24 erans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Oper25 ating Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn. 


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1 SEC. 206. REIMBURSEMENT OF PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS 

2 FOR EXPENSES RELATING TO BOARD CER3 TIFICATION OR RECERTIFICATION. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7411 of title 38, United 

5 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

6 ‘‘§ 7411. Full-time board-certified physicians and den7 tists: reimbursement of certification or 

8 recertification and continuing profes9 sional education expenses 

10 ‘‘The Secretary shall reimburse any full-time board11 certified physician or dentist appointed under section 

12 7401(1) of this title for expenses incurred, up to $1,000 

13 per year, for certification or recertification expenses, or 

14 continuing professional education. For physicians who are 

15 full-time psychiatrists, the Secretary may reimburse up to 

16 $4,000 per year.’’. 

17 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

18 at the beginning of chapter 74 of such title is amended 

19 by striking the item relating to section 7411 and inserting 

20 the following new item: 

‘‘7411. Full-time board-certified physicians and dentists: reimbursement of certification or recertification and continuing professional education expenses.’’. 

21 SEC. 207. PEER SUPPORT. 

22 (a) PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING PROGRAM.— 

23 (1) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Paragraph (1) of 

24 section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States Code, is 


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1 amended in the matter before subparagraph (A) by 

2 striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 

3 (2) TRAINING.—Paragraph (2) of such section 

4 is amended by inserting after ‘‘peer counselors’’ the 

5 following: ‘‘, including training carried out under the 

6 national program of training required by section 

7 304(c) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 

8 Health Services Act of 2010 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note; 

9 Public Law 111–163)’’. 

10 (3) AVAILABILITY OF PROGRAM AT DEPART11 MENT MEDICAL CENTERS.—Such section is amended 

12 by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

13 ‘‘(3) In addition to other locations the Secretary con14 siders appropriate, the Secretary shall carry out the peer 

15 support program under this subsection at each Depart16 ment medical center.’’. 

17 (4) DEADLINE FOR COMMENCEMENT OF PRO18 GRAM.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall en19 sure that the peer support counseling program re20 quired by section 1720F(j) of title 38, United States 

21 Code, as amended by this subsection, commences at 

22 each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center 

23 not later than 270 days after the date of the enact24 ment of this Act. 


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1 (b) PROVISION OF PEER OUTREACH AND PEER SUP2 PORT SERVICES AT DEPARTMENT MEDICAL CENTERS

3 UNDER PROGRAM ON READJUSTMENT AND MENTAL

4 HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED

5 IN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM AND OPERATION

6 IRAQI FREEDOM.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 304 of the Care8 givers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 

9 2010 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note; Public Law 111–163) 

10 is amended— 

11 (A) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub12 section (f); and 

13 (B) by inserting after subsection (d) the 

14 following new subsection (e): 

15 ‘‘(e) PROVISION OF PEER OUTREACH AND PEER

16 SUPPORT SERVICES AT DEPARTMENT MEDICAL CEN17 TERS.—The Secretary shall carry out the services required 

18 by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1) at each 

19 Department medical center.’’. 

20 (2) DEADLINE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af21 fairs shall commence carrying out the services re22 quired by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection 

23 (a)(1) of such section at each Department of Vet24 erans Affairs medical center, as required by sub25 section (e) of such section (as added by paragraph 


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1 (1)), not later than 270 days after the date of the 

2 enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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