Rural Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act

To provide for advance appropriations for certain information technology accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to include mental health professionals in training programs of the Department, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act 2. Advance appropriations for accounts for health-related information technology for the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Advance appropriations for information technology accounts Section 117(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) Accounts, including subaccounts of the Accounts referred to in paragraphs (1) through (3), providing funds for information technology. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2014, and shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning on or after that date. 3. Inclusion of mental health professionals in the education and training program for health personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general In carrying out the education and training program required under section 7302(a)(1) (b) Funding The Secretary shall apportion funding for the education and training program equally among the professions included in the program. 4. Provision of mental health services for families of certain veterans at facilities of the Department (a) Provision of mental health services at Department facilities Subsection (e) of section 304 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( 38 U.S.C. 1712A Public Law 111–163 (1) by striking peer outreach and peer support services services (2) by striking The Secretary shall carry out the services (1) the services ; (3) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) the mental health services required by subsection (a)(2) at or through Department medical centers. . (b) Definition of mental health services Such section is further amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following: (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Mental health services The term mental health services section 17.38(a)(1)(i) (2) Vet center The term vet center section 1712A . 5. Report on provision of telemedicine services (a) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the following: (1) Issues that may be impeding the provision by the Department of Veterans Affairs of telemedicine services for veterans, including the following: (A) Statutory or regulatory restrictions. (B) Licensure or credentialing issues for any provider practicing telemedicine with veterans who live in a different State than the provider. (C) Limited broadband access in rural areas. (D) Limited information technology resources or capabilities. (E) Long distances veterans must travel to access a facility or clinic with telemedicine capabilities. (F) Insufficient liability protection for providers. (G) Reimbursement issues faced by providers. (H) Travel limitations for providers that are unaffiliated with the Department and are participating or seeking to participate in a telemedicine program of the Department. (2) Actions taken to address the issues identified in paragraph (1). (3) An update on efforts by the Department to carry out the initiative of teleconsultation for the provision of remote mental health and traumatic brain injury assessments required by section 1709A (4) An update on efforts by the Department to offer training opportunities in telemedicine to medical residents, as required by section 108(b) of the Janey Ensminger Act ( Public Law 112–154 38 U.S.C. 7406 (5) An update on efforts by the Department to, in partnership with primary care providers, install video cameras and instruments to monitor weight, blood pressure, and other vital statistics in the homes of patients. (b) Telemedicine defined In this section, the term telemedicine

Summary: Rural Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act - Amends appropriations authorities for veterans' benefits to provide advanced appropriations for information technology relating to medical services, support, compliance, and facilities of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include, as a component of VHA health-care personnel education and training programs, education and training of marriage and family therapists as well as licensed professional mental health counselors. Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 to require the Secretary, through VA medical centers, to provide mental health services, including outpatient care, to the immediate families of certain veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress regarding telemedicine services (the use by a health care provider of telecommunications to assist in the diagnosis or treatment of a patient's medical condition) for veterans, including updates on VA teleconsultation and telemedicine initiatives, training, and partnerships with primary care providers.