I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 203 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of 

annual evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs 

of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to require a pilot program on 

loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans 

Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 7, 2015 

Mr. WALZ (for himself, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Ms. ESTY, 

Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. RUSH, Mr. O’ROURKE, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT

of Georgia, and Mrs. KIRKPATRICK) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for 

the conduct of annual evaluations of mental health care 

and suicide prevention programs of the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, to require a pilot program on loan 

repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the 

Veterans Health Administration 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, 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 203 IH

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Clay Hunt Suicide Pre3 vention for American Veterans Act’’ or the ‘‘Clay Hunt 

4 SAV Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. EVALUATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SUI6 CIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS OF DEPART7 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

8 (a) EVALUATIONS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 

10 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by add11 ing at the end the following new section: 

12 ‘‘§ 1709B. Evaluations of mental health care and sui13 cide prevention programs 

14 ‘‘(a) EVALUATIONS.—(1) Not less frequently than 

15 once during each period specified in paragraph (3), the 

16 Secretary shall provide for the conduct of an evaluation 

17 of the mental health care and suicide prevention programs 

18 carried out under the laws administered by the Secretary. 

19 ‘‘(2) Each evaluation conducted under paragraph (1) 

20 shall— 

21 ‘‘(A) use metrics that are common among and 

22 useful for practitioners in the field of mental health 

23 care and suicide prevention; 

24 ‘‘(B) identify the most effective mental health 

25 care and suicide prevention programs conducted by 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 203 IH

1 the Secretary, including such programs conducted at 

2 a Center of Excellence; 

3 ‘‘(C) identify the cost-effectiveness of each pro4 gram identified under subparagraph (B); 

5 ‘‘(D) measure the satisfaction of patients with 

6 respect to the care provided under each such pro7 gram; and 

8 ‘‘(E) propose best practices for caring for indi9 viduals who suffer from mental health disorders or 

10 are at risk of suicide, including such practices con11 ducted or suggested by other departments or agen12 cies of the Federal Government, including the Sub13 stance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis14 tration of the Department of Health and Human 

15 Services. 

16 ‘‘(3) The periods specified in this paragraph are the 

17 following: 

18 ‘‘(A) The period beginning on the date on which 

19 the Secretary awards the contract under paragraph 

20 (4) and ending on September 30, 2018. 

21 ‘‘(B) Each fiscal year beginning on or after Oc22 tober 1, 2018. 

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

24 enactment of this section, the Secretary shall seek to enter 

25 into a contract with an independent third party unaffiliVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:17 Jan 10, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H203.IH H203

tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 203 IH

1 ated with the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct 

2 evaluations under paragraph (1). 

3 ‘‘(5) The independent third party that is awarded the 

4 contract under paragraph (4) shall submit to the Sec5 retary each evaluation conducted under paragraph (1). 

6 ‘‘(b) ANNUAL SUBMISSION.—Not later than Decem7 ber 1, 2018, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall 

8 submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen9 ate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

10 of Representatives a report that contains the following: 

11 ‘‘(1) The most recent evaluations submitted to 

12 the Secretary under subsection (a)(5) that the Sec13 retary has not previously submitted to such Commit14 tees. 

15 ‘‘(2) Any recommendations the Secretary con16 siders appropriate.’’. 

17 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec18 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

19 by inserting after the item relating to section 1709A 

20 the following new item: 

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

21 (b) INTERIM REPORTS.—Not later than September 

22 30 of each of 2016 and 2017, the Secretary of Veterans 

23 Affairs, in coordination with the independent third party 

24 awarded a contract by the Secretary pursuant to section 

25 1709B(a)(4) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 203 IH

1 subsection (a)(1), shall submit to the Committee on Vet2 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet3 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

4 on the mental health care and suicide prevention programs 

5 carried out under the laws administered by the Secretary 

6 that includes, with respect to each such program, the fol7 lowing: 

8 (1) A description of the program. 

9 (2) The number of veterans served by the pro10 gram. 

11 (3) The budget of the program. 

12 (4) The number of full-time equivalent employ13 ees assigned to the program. 

14 (5) Whether veterans may repeat participation 

15 in the program or participate in the program in ad16 dition to other similar programs. 

17 (6) Any study results or research published re18 garding the efficacy of the program. 

19 (7) Any other information the Secretary deter20 mines appropriate. 

21 SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF INTERNET WEBSITE TO PROVIDE 

22 INFORMATION REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH 

23 CARE SERVICES. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Using funds made available to the 

25 Secretary of Veterans Affairs to publish the Internet 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 203 IH

1 websites of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Sec2 retary shall survey the existing Internet websites and in3 formation resources of the Department to publish an 

4 Internet website that serves as a centralized source to pro5 vide veterans with information regarding all of the mental 

6 health care services provided by the Secretary. 

7 (b) ELEMENTS.—The Internet website published 

8 under subsection (a) shall provide to veterans information 

9 regarding all of the mental health care services available 

10 in the Veteran Integrated Service Network that the vet11 eran is seeking such services, including, with respect to 

12 each medical center, Vet Center (as defined in section 

13 1712A of title 38, United States Code), and community14 based outpatient center in the Veterans Integrated Service 

15 Network— 

16 (1) the name and contact information of each 

17 social work office; 

18 (2) the name and contact information of each 

19 mental health clinic; 

20 (3) a list of appropriate staff; and 

21 (4) any other information the Secretary deter22 mines appropriate. 

23 (c) UPDATED INFORMATION.—The Secretary shall 

24 ensure that the information described in subsection (b) 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 203 IH

1 that is published on the Internet website under subsection 

2 (a) is updated not less than once every 90 days. 

3 (d) OUTREACH.—In carrying out this section, the 

4 Secretary shall ensure that the outreach conducted under 

5 section 1720F(i) of title 38, United States Code, includes 

6 information regarding the Internet website published 

7 under subsection (a). 

8 SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM FOR REPAYMENT OF EDU9 CATIONAL LOANS FOR CERTAIN PSYCHIA10 TRISTS OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRA11 TION. 

12 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 

13 Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to repay loans of 

14 individuals described in subsection (b) that— 

15 (1) were used by such individuals to finance 

16 education relating to psychiatric medicine, including 

17 education leading to— 

18 (A) a degree of doctor of medicine; or 

19 (B) a degree of doctor of osteopathy; and 

20 (2) were obtained from any of the following: 

21 (A) A governmental entity. 

22 (B) A private financial institution. 

23 (C) A school. 

24 (D) Any other authorized entity as deter25 mined by the Secretary. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
8 

•HR 203 IH

1 (b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), an 

3 individual eligible for participation in the pilot pro4 gram is an individual who— 

5 (A) either— 

6 (i) is licensed or eligible for licensure 

7 to practice psychiatric medicine in the Vet8 erans Health Administration of the De9 partment of Veterans Affairs; or 

10 (ii) is enrolled in the final year of a 

11 residency program leading to a specialty 

12 qualification in psychiatric medicine that is 

13 approved by the Accreditation Council for 

14 Graduate Medical Education; and 

15 (B) demonstrates a commitment to a long16 term career as a psychiatrist in the Veterans 

17 Health Administration, as determined by the 

18 Secretary. 

19 (2) PROHIBITION ON SIMULTANEOUS ELIGI20 BILITY.—An individual who is participating in any 

21 other program of the Federal Government that re22 pays the educational loans of the individual is not el23 igible to participate in the pilot program. 

24 (c) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall select not less 

25 than 10 individuals described in subsection (b) to particiVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:17 Jan 10, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H203.IH H203

tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
9 

•HR 203 IH

1 pate in the pilot program for each year in which the Sec2 retary carries out the pilot program. 

3 (d) PERIOD OF OBLIGATED SERVICE.—The Sec4 retary shall enter into an agreement with each individual 

5 selected under subsection (c) in which such individual 

6 agrees to serve a period of 2 or more years of obligated 

7 service for the Veterans Health Administration in the field 

8 of psychiatric medicine, as determined by the Secretary. 

9 (e) LOAN REPAYMENTS.— 

10 (1) AMOUNTS.—Subject to paragraph (2), a 

11 loan repayment under this section may consist of 

12 payment of the principal, interest, and related ex13 penses of a loan obtained by an individual who is 

14 participating in the pilot program for all educational 

15 expenses (including tuition, fees, books, and labora16 tory expenses) of such individual relating to edu17 cation described in subsection (a)(1). 

18 (2) LIMIT.—For each year of obligated service 

19 that an individual who is participating in the pilot 

20 program agrees to serve under subsection (d), the 

21 Secretary may pay not more than $30,000 in loan 

22 repayment on behalf of such individual. 

23 (f) BREACH.— 

24 (1) LIABILITY.—An individual who participates 

25 in the pilot program and fails to satisfy the period 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
10 

•HR 203 IH

1 of obligated service under subsection (d) shall be lia2 ble to the United States, in lieu of such obligated 

3 service, for the amount that has been paid or is pay4 able to or on behalf of the individual under the pilot 

5 program, reduced by the proportion that the number 

6 of days served for completion of the period of obli7 gated service bears to the total number of days in 

8 the period of obligated service of such individual. 

9 (2) REPAYMENT PERIOD.—Any amount of dam10 ages that the United States is entitled to recover 

11 under this subsection shall be paid to the United 

12 States not later than 1 year after the date of the 

13 breach of the agreement. 

14 (g) REPORT.— 

15 (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years 

16 after the date on which the pilot program under sub17 section (a) commences, the Secretary shall submit to 

18 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 

19 and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

20 House of Representatives a report on the pilot pro21 gram. 

22 (2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para23 graph (1) shall include the following: 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
11 

•HR 203 IH

1 (A) The number of individuals who partici2 pated in the pilot program, including the num3 ber of new hires. 

4 (B) The locations in which such individuals 

5 were employed by the Department, including 

6 how many such locations were rural or urban 

7 locations. 

8 (C) An assessment of the quality of the 

9 work performed by such individuals in the 

10 course of such employment, including the per11 formance reviews of such individuals. 

12 (D) The number of psychiatrists the Sec13 retary determines is needed by the Department 

14 in the future. 

15 (3) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 

16 before the date on which the pilot program termi17 nates under subsection (i), the Secretary shall sub18 mit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

19 Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

20 the House of Representatives an update to the re21 port submitted under paragraph (1) and any rec22 ommendations that the Secretary considers appro23 priate. 

24 (h) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 

25 regulations to carry out this section, including standards 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
12 

•HR 203 IH

1 for qualified loans and authorized payees and other terms 

2 and conditions for the making of loan repayments. 

3 (i) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out the 

4 pilot program shall expire on the date that is 3 years after 

5 the date on which the Secretary commences the pilot pro6 gram. 

7 SEC. 5. PILOT PROGRAM ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH. 

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

9 shall establish a pilot program to assist veterans 

10 transitioning from serving on active duty and to improve 

11 the access of veterans to mental health services. 

12 (b) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall carry out the 

13 pilot program under subsection (a) at not less than five 

14 Veterans Integrated Service Networks that have a large 

15 population of veterans who— 

16 (1) served in the reserve components of the 

17 Armed Forces; or 

18 (2) are transitioning into communities with an 

19 established population of veterans after having re20 cently separated from the Armed Forces. 

21 (c) FUNCTIONS.—The pilot program at each Vet22 erans Integrated Service Network described in subsection 

23 (b) shall include the following: 

24 (1) A community oriented veteran peer support 

25 network, carried out in partnership with an approVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:17 Jan 10, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H203.IH H203

tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
13 

•HR 203 IH

1 priate entity with experience in peer support pro2 grams, that— 

3 (A) establishes peer support training 

4 guidelines; 

5 (B) develops a network of veteran peer 

6 support counselors to meet the demands of the 

7 communities in the Veterans Integrated Service 

8 Network; 

9 (C) conducts training of veteran peer sup10 port counselors; 

11 (D) with respect to one medical center se12 lected by the Secretary in each such Veterans 

13 Integrated Service Network, has— 

14 (i) a designated peer support spe15 cialist who acts as a liaison to the commu16 nity oriented veteran peer network; and 

17 (ii) a certified mental health profes18 sional designated as the community ori19 ented veteran peer network mentor; and 

20 (E) is readily available to veterans, includ21 ing pursuant to the Veterans Integrated Service 

22 Network cooperating and working with State 

23 and local governments and appropriate entities. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
14 

•HR 203 IH

1 (2) A community outreach team for each med2 ical center selected by the Secretary pursuant to 

3 paragraph (1)(D) that— 

4 (A) assists veterans transitioning into com5 munities; 

6 (B) establishes a veteran transition advi7 sory group to facilitate outreach activities; 

8 (C) includes the participation of appro9 priate community organizations, State and local 

10 governments, colleges and universities, cham11 bers of commerce and other local business orga12 nizations, and organizations that provide legal 

13 aid or advice; and 

14 (D) coordinates with the Veterans Inte15 grated Service Network regarding the Veterans 

16 Integrated Service Network carrying out an an17 nual mental health summit to assess the status 

18 of veteran mental health care in the community 

19 and to develop new or innovative means to pro20 vide mental health services to veterans. 

21 (d) REPORTS.— 

22 (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 18 

23 months after the date on which the pilot program 

24 under subsection (a) commences, the Secretary shall 

25 submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
15 

•HR 203 IH

1 Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

2 the House of Representatives a report on the pilot 

3 program. With respect to each Veterans Integrated 

4 Service Network described in subsection (b), the re5 port shall include— 

6 (A) a full description of the peer support 

7 model implemented under the pilot program, 

8 participation data, and data pertaining to past 

9 and current mental health related hospitaliza10 tions and fatalities; 

11 (B) recommendations on implementing 

12 peer support networks throughout the Depart13 ment; 

14 (C) whether the mental health resources 

15 made available under the pilot program for 

16 members of the reserve components of the 

17 Armed Forces is effective; and 

18 (D) a full description of the activities and 

19 effectiveness of community outreach coordi20 nating teams under the pilot program, including 

21 partnerships that have been established with 

22 appropriate entities. 

23 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 

24 before the date on which the pilot program termi25 nates under subsection (e), the Secretary shall subVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:17 Jan 10, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H203.IH H203

tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
16 

•HR 203 IH

1 mit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

2 Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

3 the House of Representatives an update to the re4 port submitted under paragraph (1). 

5 (e) CONSTRUCTION.—This section may not be con6 strued to authorize the Secretary to hire additional em7 ployees of the Department to carry out the pilot program 

8 under subsection (a). 

9 (f) TERMINATION.—The authority of the Secretary to 

10 carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) shall ter11 minate on the date that is 3 years after the date on which 

12 the pilot program commences. 

13 SEC. 6. COLLABORATION ON SUICIDE PREVENTION EF14 FORTS BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF VET15 ERANS AFFAIRS AND NON-PROFIT MENTAL 

16 HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS. 

17 (a) COLLABORATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Af18 fairs may collaborate with non-profit mental health orga19 nizations to prevent suicide among veterans as follows: 

20 (1) To improve the efficiency and effectiveness 

21 of suicide prevention efforts carried out by the Sec22 retary and non-profit mental health organizations. 

23 (2) To assist non-profit mental health organiza24 tions with the suicide prevention efforts of such orVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:17 Jan 10, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H203.IH H203

tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
17 

•HR 203 IH

1 ganizations through the use of the expertise of em2 ployees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

3 (3) To jointly carry out suicide prevention ef4 forts. 

5 (b) EXCHANGE OF RESOURCES.—In carrying out any 

6 collaboration under subsection (a), the Secretary and any 

7 non-profit mental health organization with which the Sec8 retary is collaborating under such subsection shall ex9 change training sessions and best practices to help with 

10 the suicide prevention efforts of the Department and such 

11 organization. 

12 (c) DIRECTOR OF SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINA13 TION.—The Secretary shall select within the Department 

14 a Director of Suicide Prevention Coordination to under15 take any collaboration with non-profit mental health orga16 nizations under this section or any other provision of law. 

17 SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH 

18 CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS OF COMBAT 

19 SERVICE DURING CERTAIN PERIODS OF HOS20 TILITIES AND WAR. 

21 Paragraph (3) of section 1710(e) of title 38, United 

22 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

23 ‘‘(3) In the case of care for a veteran described in 

24 paragraph (1)(D), hospital care, medical services, and 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
18 

•HR 203 IH

1 nursing home care may be provided under or by virtue 

2 of subsection (a)(2)(F) only during the following periods: 

3 ‘‘(A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), 

4 with respect to a veteran described in paragraph 

5 (1)(D) who is discharged or released from the active 

6 military, naval, or air service after January 27, 

7 2003, the five-year period beginning on the date of 

8 such discharge or release. 

9 ‘‘(B) With respect to a veteran described in 

10 paragraph (1)(D) who is discharged or released from 

11 the active military, naval, or air service after Janu12 ary 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2011, but did 

13 not enroll to receive such hospital care, medical serv14 ices, or nursing home care pursuant to such para15 graph during the five-year period described in sub16 paragraph (A), the one-year period beginning on the 

17 date of the enactment of the Clay Hunt Suicide Pre18 vention for American Veterans Act. 

19 ‘‘(C) With respect to a veteran described in 

20 paragraph (1)(D) who is discharged or released from 

21 the active military, naval, or air service on or before 

22 January 27, 2003, and did not enroll in the patient 

23 enrollment system under section 1705 of this title on 

24 or before such date, the three-year period beginning 

25 on January 27, 2008.’’. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
19 

•HR 203 IH

1 SEC. 8. PROHIBITION ON NEW APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 No additional funds are authorized to be appro3 priated to carry out this Act and the amendments made 

4 by this Act, and this Act and such amendments shall be 

5 carried out using amounts otherwise made available for 

6 such purposes. 

Æ 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS