Veterans Access to Online Treatment Act

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide veterans access to computerized cognitive behavioral therapy. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Access to Online Treatment Act 2. Pilot program to provide veterans access to computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (a) Pilot program (1) In general Beginning not later than 210 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to treat eligible veterans suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, or substance use disorder, or a combination thereof, who are already receiving evidence-based therapy from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) Computerized cognitive behavioral therapy In carrying out the pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary may use computerized cognitive behavioral therapy to treat eligible veterans. (3) Continuation of programs The Secretary may— (A) continue any cognitive behavioral therapy programs in place on or before the date of the enactment of this Act; and (B) may use data or other observations under any such programs in making the assessment required under subsection (h)(1). (b) Eligible veterans A veteran is eligible to participate in the pilot program under subsection (a) if the veteran is enrolled in the system of patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code. (c) Duration The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) for a two-year period beginning on the commencement of the program. (d) Locations (1) In general The Secretary shall select not fewer than three facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs at which to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a). (2) Selection criteria In selecting facilities under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that— (A) the locations are in geographically diverse areas; and (B) not fewer than two facilities serve veterans in rural or highly rural areas. (e) Access to chat In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that veterans participating in the pilot program have access via chat to a mental health provider 24 hours per day, seven days per week. (f) Promotion of veterans crisis line The Secretary shall promote the availability of the Veterans Crisis Line to veterans participating in the pilot program under subsection (a). (g) Department website In implementing the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary, to the extent feasible, shall use a website of the Department of Veterans Affairs to host the pilot program. (h) Reports (1) Interim report (A) In general Not later than one year after the commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a), 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 on the progress of the pilot program. (B) Elements The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i) The number of participants in the pilot program and the number of persons whose experience in any other online cognitive behavioral therapy programs conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs were used in the assessment under clause (ii). (ii) An assessment of whether participation by a veteran in the pilot program resulted in any changes in clinically relevant endpoints for the veteran with respect to the conditions specified in subsection (a)(1). (iii) Any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to extending or expanding the pilot program. (2) Final report Not later than 90 days after the termination of the pilot program under subsection (a), 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 final report on the pilot program. (i) Definitions In this section: (1) The term highly rural area (2) The term Veterans Crisis Line

Summary: Veterans Access to Online Treatment Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a two-year pilot program to treat eligible veterans suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, or substance use disorder who are already receiving evidence-based therapy from the VA. Under the program, the VA is authorized to use computerized cognitive behavioral therapy to treat eligible veterans. Eligible veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system.