I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3499 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 14, 2013 
Mrs. KIRKPATRICK
(for herself, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. HINOJOSA, Ms. 
BROWNLEY of California, Mr. BARBER, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. GRI-
JALVA, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. RAHALL, 
Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. KUSTER, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Ms. SHEA- 
PORTER, Mr. HONDA, Mr. ENYART, and Mr. MCNERNEY) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To provide for advance appropriations for certain information 
technology accounts of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs, to include mental health professionals in training 
programs of the Department, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Veterans Mental 
Health Care Improvement Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS FOR ACCOUNTS FOR 
HEALTH-RELATED 
INFORMATION 
TECH-
NOLOGY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS 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 Ac-
counts 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. 
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 
IN THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM 
FOR HEALTH PERSONNEL OF THE DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the education and 
training program required under section 7302(a)(1) of 
title 38, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall include education and training of marriage 
and family therapists and licensed professional mental 
health counselors. 
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(b) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall apportion fund-
ing for the education and training program equally among 
the professions included in the program. 
SEC. 4. PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR 
FAMILIES OF CERTAIN VETERANS AT FACILI-
TIES 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 note; Public Law 111– 
163) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘PEER OUTREACH AND PEER 
SUPPORT SERVICES’’ and inserting ‘‘SERVICES’’; 
and 
(2) by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall carry out 
the services’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall 
carry out— 
‘‘(1) the services’’; 
(3) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) the mental health services required by sub-
section (a)(2) at or through Department medical 
centers.’’. 
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(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’ includes outpatient mental 
healthcare referred to in section 17.38(a)(1)(i) of 
title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on 
the day before the date of enactment of this Act). 
‘‘(2) VET
CENTER.—The term ‘vet center’ 
means a center for readjustment counseling and re-
lated mental health services for veterans under sec-
tion 1712A of title 38, United States Code.’’. 
SEC. 5. REPORT ON PROVISION OF TELEMEDICINE SERV-
ICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 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 on the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Issues that may be impeding the provision 
by the Department of Veterans Affairs of telemedi-
cine services for veterans, including the following: 
(A) Statutory or regulatory restrictions. 
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(B) Licensure or credentialing issues for 
any provider practicing telemedicine with vet-
erans who live in a different State than the pro-
vider. 
(C) Limited broadband access in rural 
areas. 
(D) Limited information technology re-
sources or capabilities. 
(E) Long distances veterans must travel to 
access a facility or clinic with telemedicine ca-
pabilities. 
(F) Insufficient liability protection for pro-
viders. 
(G) Reimbursement issues faced by pro-
viders. 
(H) Travel limitations for providers that 
are unaffiliated with the Department and are 
participating or seeking to participate in a tele-
medicine program of the Department. 
(2) Actions taken to address the issues identi-
fied 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 
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brain injury assessments required by section 1709A 
of title 38, United States Code. 
(4) An update on efforts by the Department to 
offer training opportunities in telemedicine to med-
ical residents, as required by section 108(b) of the 
Janey Ensminger Act (Public Law 112–154; 38 
U.S.C. 7406 note). 
(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’’ means the use by a health care pro-
vider of telecommunications to assist in the diagnosis or 
treatment of a patient’s medical condition. 
Æ 
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