(B) SUNSET DATE.—This paragraph is re-
pealed on September 30, 2008. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than March 15, 2008, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives a report that— 
(1) identifies the amount expended by the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs during fiscal year 2007 
to conduct cost comparison studies, including— 
(A) studies conducted in accordance with 
Office of Management and Budget Circular A– 
76; and 
(B) studies to identify the most efficient 
internal processes for the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs; 
(2) summarizes the benefits and burdens of the 
studies described in paragraph (1); 
(3) analyzes each approach for determining— 
(A) the best method of allocating the re-
sources of the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
and 
(B) the appropriate use of nongovern-
mental employees; and 
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(4) identifies the amount of savings (calculated 
in terms of full-time employee reinvestment), if any, 
to the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result 
of— 
(A) the private-public cost comparison 
studies conducted under subsection (a); and 
(B) the Department of Veterans Affairs in-
ternal processes for the same positions. 
SEC. 8. IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPANSION OF MENTAL 
HEALTH SERVICES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Mental health treatment capacity at com-
munity-based outpatient clinics remains inadequate 
and inconsistent, despite the requirement under sec-
tion 1706(c) of title 38, United States Code, that 
every primary care health care facility of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs develop and carry out 
a plan to meet the mental health care needs of vet-
erans who require such services. 
(2) In 2001, the minority staff of the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate conducted 
a survey of community-based outpatient clinics and 
found that there was no established systemwide 
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baseline of acceptable mental health service levels at 
such clinics. 
(3) In February 2005, the Government Ac-
countability Office reported that the Department of 
Veterans Affairs had not fully met any of the 24 
clinical care and education recommendations made 
in 2004 by the Special Committee on Post-Trau-
matic Stress Disorder of the Under Secretary for 
Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) CLINICAL SERVICES AND EDUCATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall— 
(A) expand the number of clinical treat-
ment teams principally dedicated to the treat-
ment of post-traumatic stress disorder in med-
ical facilities of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs; 
(B) expand and improve the services avail-
able to diagnose and treat substance abuse; 
(C) expand and improve telehealth initia-
tives to provide better access to mental health 
services in areas of the country in which the 
Secretary determines that a need for such serv-
ices exist due to the distance of such locations 
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from an appropriate facility of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs; 
(D) improve education programs available 
to primary care delivery professionals and dedi-
cate such programs to recognize, treat, and 
clinically manage veterans with mental health 
care needs; 
(E) expand the delivery of mental health 
services in community-based outpatient clinics 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs in which 
such services are not available as of the date of 
enactment of this Act; and 
(F) expand and improve the Mental Health 
Intensive Case Management Teams for the 
treatment and clinical case management of vet-
erans with serious or chronic mental illness. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There 
are 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated 
$95,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008 
to improve and expand the treatment services and 
options available to veterans in need of mental 
health treatment from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, of which— 
(A) $5,000,000 shall be allocated to carry 
out paragraph (1)(A); 
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(B) $50,000,000 shall be allocated to carry 
out paragraph (1)(B); 
(C) $10,000,000 shall be allocated to carry 
out paragraph (1)(C); 
(D) $1,000,000 shall be allocated to carry 
out paragraph (1)(D); 
(E) $20,000,000 shall be allocated to carry 
out paragraph (1)(E); and 
(F) $5,000,000 shall be allocated to carry 
out paragraph (1)(F). 
(c) REQUIRED CAPACITY
FOR COMMUNITY-BASED 
OUTPATIENT CLINICS.— 
(1) ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF 
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.—The Under Secretary 
shall take appropriate steps and provide necessary 
incentives (including appropriate performance incen-
tives) to ensure that each Regional Director of the 
Veterans Health Administration is encouraged to— 
(A) prioritize the provision of mental 
health services to veterans in need of such serv-
ices; 
(B) foster collaborative working environ-
ments among clinicians for the provision of 
mental health services; and 
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(C) conduct mental health consultations 
during primary care appointments. 
(2) MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 
SERVICES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that each community-based outpatient clin-
ic of the Department has the capacity to pro-
vide, or monitor the provision of, mental health 
services to enrolled veterans in need of such 
services. 
(B) SETTINGS.—In carrying out subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that men-
tal health services are provided through— 
(i) a community-based outpatient clin-
ic of the Department by an employee of 
the Department; 
(ii) referral to another facility of the 
Department; 
(iii) contract with an appropriate 
mental health professional in the local 
community; or 
(iv) tele-mental health service. 
(3) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 
January 31, 2009, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall submit to Congress a report that— 
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(A) describes the status and availability of 
mental health services at community-based out-
patient clinics; 
(B) describes the substance of services 
available at such clinics; and 
(C) includes the ratios between mental 
health staff and patients at such clinics. 
(d) COOPERATION ON MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS 
AND PREVENTION.— 
(1) AGREEMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter 
into a Memorandum of Understanding— 
(A) to ensure that separating service mem-
bers receive standardized individual mental 
health and sexual trauma assessments as part 
of separation exams; and 
(B) that includes the development of 
shared guidelines on how to conduct the assess-
ments. 
(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT VETERANS AF-
FAIRS–DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WORKGROUP ON 
MENTAL HEALTH.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
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of Veterans Affairs shall establish a joint 
workgroup on mental health, which shall be 
comprised of not less than seven leaders in the 
field of mental health appointed from their re-
spective departments. 
(B) STUDY.—Not later than one year after 
the establishment of the workgroup under sub-
paragraph (A), the workgroup shall analyze the 
feasibility, content, and scope of initiatives re-
lated to— 
(i) combating stigmas and prejudices 
associated with service members who suffer 
from mental health disorders or readjust-
ment issues, through the use of peer coun-
seling programs or other educational initia-
tives; 
(ii) ways in which the Department of 
Veterans Affairs can make its expertise in 
treating mental health disorders more 
readily available to Department of Defense 
mental health care providers; 
(iii) family and spousal education to 
assist family members of veterans and 
service members to recognize and deal with 
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signs of potential readjustment issues or 
other mental health disorders; and 
(iv) the seamless transition of service 
members who have been diagnosed with 
mental health disorders from active duty to 
veteran status (in consultation with the 
Seamless Transition Task Force and other 
entities assisting in this effort). 
(C) REPORT.—Not later than June 30, 
2008, the Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Con-
gress a report containing the findings and rec-
ommendations of the workgroup established 
under subparagraph (A). 
(e) PRIMARY CARE CONSULTATIONS FOR MENTAL 
HEALTH.— 
(1) GUIDELINES.—The Under Secretary for 
Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish systemwide guidelines for screening pri-
mary care patients for mental health disorders and 
illnesses. 
(2) TRAINING.—Based upon the guidelines es-
tablished under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary 
shall conduct appropriate training for clinicians of 
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the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
mental health consultations. 
(f) CLINICAL TRAINING AND PROTOCOLS.— 
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(A) the Iraq War Clinician Guide has tre-
mendous value; and 
(B) the Secretary of Defense and the Na-
tional Center on Post Traumatic Stress Dis-
order should continue to work together to en-
sure that the mental health care needs of serv-
ice members and veterans are met. 
(2) COLLABORATION.—The National Center on 
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder shall collaborate 
with the Secretary of Defense— 
(A) to enhance the clinical skills of military 
clinicians through training, treatment protocols, 
web-based interventions, and the development of 
evidence-based interventions; and 
(B) to promote pre-deployment resilience 
and post-deployment readjustment among serv-
ice members serving in Operation Iraqi Free-
dom and Operation Enduring Freedom. 
(3) TRAINING.—The National Center on Post 
Traumatic Stress Disorder shall work with the Sec-
retary of Defense to ensure that clinicians in the De-
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partment of Defense are provided with the training 
and protocols developed pursuant to paragraph 
(2)(A). 
(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 
for 2007 to carry out this subsection. 
SEC. 9. DISCLOSURE OF MEDICAL RECORDS. 
(a) LIMITED EXCEPTION TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF 
MEDICAL RECORDS.—Section 5701 is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(k)(1)(A) The Secretary may disclose the name and 
address of any individual described in subparagraph (C) 
to an entity described in subparagraph (B) in order to 
facilitate the determination by such entity whether the in-
dividual is, or after death will be, a suitable organ, tissue, 
or eye donor if— 
‘‘(i) the individual is near death (as determined 
by the Secretary) or is deceased; and 
‘‘(ii) the disclosure is permitted under regula-
tions promulgated pursuant to section 264 of the 
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note). 
‘‘(B) An entity described in this subparagraph is— 
‘‘(i) an organ procurement organization; or 
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‘‘(ii) an entity that the Secretary has deter-
mined— 
‘‘(I) is substantially similar in function, 
professionalism, and reliability to an organ pro-
curement organization; and 
‘‘(II) should be treated for purposes of this 
subsection in the same manner as an organ pro-
curement organization. 
‘‘(C) An individual described in this subparagraph 
is— 
‘‘(i) a member or former member of the Armed 
Forces; or 
‘‘(ii) a dependent of a member or former mem-
ber of the Armed Forces. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘organ procurement 
organization’ has the meaning given the term ‘qualified 
organ procurement organization’ in section 371(b) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 273(b)).’’ 
(b) 
DISCLOSURES
FROM
CERTAIN
MEDICAL 
RECORDS.—Section 7332(b)(2) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) To an entity described in paragraph 
(1)(B) of section 5701(k) of this title, but only to 
the extent authorized by such section.’’. 
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SEC. 10. EXPANSION OF NATIONAL GUARD OUTREACH PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall expand the total number of personnel employed 
by the Department of Veterans Affairs as part of the Re-
adjustment Counseling Service’s Global War on Terrorism 
Outreach Program (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Pro-
gram’’). 
(b) COORDINATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall coordinate participation in the Pro-
gram by appropriate employees of the Veterans Benefits 
Administration and the Veterans Health Administration. 
(c) INFORMATION
AND ASSESSMENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that— 
(1) all appropriate health, education, and bene-
fits information is available to returning members of 
the National Guard; and 
(2) proper assessments of the needs in each of 
these areas is made by the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. 
(d) COLLABORATION.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall collaborate with appropriate State National 
Guard officials and provide such officials with any assets 
or services of the Department of Veterans Affairs that the 
Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out the Pro-
gram. 
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SEC. 11. EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall increase the 
number of Veterans Readjustment Counseling Service fa-
cilities capable of providing health services and counseling 
through telehealth linkages with facilities of the Veterans 
Health Administration. 
(b) PLAN.—The Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives a plan to implement the requirement under sub-
section (a), which shall describe the facilities that will have 
such capabilities at the end of each of fiscal years 2006, 
2007, and 2008. 
SEC. 12. MENTAL HEALTH DATA SOURCES REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not less than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives a report describing 
the mental health data maintained by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) a comprehensive list of the sources of all 
such data, including the geographic locations of fa-
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cilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs main-
taining such data; 
(2) an assessment of the limitations or advan-
tages to maintaining the current data configuration 
and locations; and 
(3) any recommendations, if any, for improving 
the collection, use, and location of mental health 
data maintained by the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
SEC. 
13. 
VETERANS 
TRAVEL 
REIMBURSEMENT 
FOR 
HEALTH CARE. 
(a) PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN ADDITIONAL MEDICAL 
CARE.—Section 111(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(G) A veteran whose travel is in connection 
with treatment or care for a non-service-connected 
disability at a non-Department facility, if the treat-
ment or care— 
‘‘(i) is provided upon the recommendation 
of medical personnel of a Department medical 
center or clinic; and 
‘‘(ii) is not available at the Department 
medical center or clinic at which such rec-
ommendation is made.’’. 
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(b) CALCULATION OF EXPENSES OF TRAVEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In calculating expenses of 
travel for purposes of the Veterans Beneficiary 
Travel Program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall use the mileage reimbursement rates for the 
use of privately owned vehicles by Government em-
ployees on official business, as prescribed by the Ad-
ministrator of General Services under section 
5707(b) of title 5, United States Code. 
(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program’’ means the 
program of payment or reimbursement for necessary 
expenses of travel of veterans and their beneficiaries 
prescribed under sections 111 and 1728 of title 38, 
United States Code, and under any other provision 
of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs for payment or reimbursement for such ex-
penses of travel. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subparagraph (G) of section 
111(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a), and the provisions of subsection (b) shall 
apply with respect to travel performed after the end of 
the 60-day period beginning on the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
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SEC. 14. BLIND REHABILITATION OUTPATIENT SPECIAL-
ISTS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) There are approximately 135,000 blind vet-
erans throughout the United States, including ap-
proximately 35,000 who are enrolled in the health- 
care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
An aging veteran population and injuries incurred in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
Freedom are increasing the number of blind vet-
erans. 
(2) Since 1996, when the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs hired its first 14 blind rehabilitation 
outpatient specialists (referred to in this section as 
‘‘Specialists’’), Specialists have been a critical part 
of the continuum of care for blind and visually im-
paired veterans. 
(3) The Department of Veterans Affairs oper-
ates 10 residential blind rehabilitation centers that 
are considered among the best in the world. These 
centers have had long waiting lists, with as many as 
1,500 blind veterans waiting for openings in 2004. 
(4) Specialists provide— 
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