I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4624 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve access to health care 
for veterans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 22, 2021 
Mr. BERGMAN (for himself, Mr. BOST, and Mr. PANETTA) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve access 
to health care for veterans, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Guaranteeing Healthcare Access to Personnel Who 
Served Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—MISSION ACT PROTECTION 
Subtitle A—Access to Community Care 
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Sec. 101. Modifications to access standards for care furnished through Commu-
nity Care Program of Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 102. Strategic plan to ensure continuity of care in the case of the realign-
ment of a medical facility of the Department. 
Subtitle B—Community Care Self-Scheduling Pilot Program 
Sec. 111. Definitions. 
Sec. 112. Pilot program establishing a community care self-scheduling appoint-
ment system. 
Sec. 113. Capabilities of self-scheduling appointment system. 
Sec. 114. Report. 
Subtitle C—Non-Department of Veterans Affairs Providers 
Sec. 121. Credentialing verification requirements for providers of non-Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs health care services. 
Sec. 122. Inapplicability of certain providers to provide non-Department of Vet-
erans Affairs care. 
TITLE II—IMPROVEMENT OF RURAL HEALTH AND TELEHEALTH 
Sec. 201. Establishment of strategic plan requirement for Office of Connected 
Care of Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 202. Comptroller General report on transportation services by third parties 
for rural veterans. 
Sec. 203. Comptroller General report on telehealth services of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs. 
TITLE III—FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAM 
Sec. 301. Analysis of feasibility and advisability of expanding assistance and 
support to caregivers to include caregivers of veterans in the 
Republic of the Philippines. 
Sec. 302. Comptroller General report on Foreign Medical Program of Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
TITLE IV—MENTAL HEALTH CARE 
Sec. 401. Analysis of feasibility and advisability of Department of Veterans Af-
fairs providing evidence-based treatments for the diagnosis of 
treatment-resistant depression. 
Sec. 402. Modification of resource allocation system to include peer specialists. 
Sec. 403. Gap analysis of psychotherapeutic interventions of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
TITLE V—OTHER MATTERS 
Sec. 501. Online health care education portal. 
Sec. 502. Exclusion of application of Paperwork Reduction Act to research ac-
tivities of the Veterans Health Administration. 
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TITLE I—MISSION ACT 
PROTECTION 
Subtitle A—Access to Community 
Care 
SEC. 101. MODIFICATIONS TO ACCESS STANDARDS FOR 
CARE FURNISHED THROUGH COMMUNITY 
CARE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) ACCESS STANDARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1703B of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking subsections (a) through (g) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) THRESHOLD ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS FOR AC-
CESS TO COMMUNITY CARE.—(1) A covered veteran shall 
receive non-Department hospital care, medical services, or 
extended care services through the Veterans Community 
Care Program under section 1703 of this title pursuant 
to subsection (d)(1)(D) of such section using the following 
eligibility access standards: 
‘‘(A) With respect to primary care, mental 
health care, or non-institutional extended care serv-
ices, if the Department cannot schedule an appoint-
ment for the covered veteran with a health care pro-
vider of the Department— 
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‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that health care pro-
viders specified under section 1703(c) of this title are able 
to comply with the applicable access to care standards 
under paragraph (1) for such providers. 
‘‘(c) WAIVERS TO ACCESS TO CARE STANDARDS FOR 
COMMUNITY CARE PROVIDERS.—(1) A Third Party Ad-
ministrator may request a waiver to the access to care 
standards under subsection (b) if— 
‘‘(A)(i) the scarcity of available providers or fa-
cilities in the region precludes the Third Party Ad-
ministrator from meeting those access to care stand-
ards; or 
‘‘(ii) the landscape of providers or facilities has 
changed, and certain providers or facilities are not 
available such that the Third Party Administrator is 
not able to meet those access to care standards; and 
‘‘(B) to address the scarcity of available pro-
viders or the change in the provider or facility land-
scape, as the case may be, the Third Party Adminis-
trator has contracted with other providers or facili-
ties that may not meet those access to care stand-
ards but are the currently available providers or fa-
cilities most accessible to veterans within the region 
of responsibility of the Third Party Administrator. 
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‘‘(2) Any waiver requested by a Third Party Adminis-
trator under paragraph (1) must be requested in writing 
and submitted to the Office of Community Care of the 
Department for approval by that office. 
‘‘(3) As part of any waiver request under paragraph 
(1), a Third Party Administrator must include conclusive 
evidence and documentation that the access to care stand-
ards under subsection (b) cannot be met because of scar-
city of available providers or changes to the landscape of 
providers or facilities. 
‘‘(4) In evaluating a waiver request under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall consider the following: 
‘‘(A) The number and geographic distribution 
of eligible health care providers available within the 
geographic area and specialty referenced in the waiv-
er request. 
‘‘(B) The prevailing market conditions within 
the geographic area and specialty referenced in the 
waiver request, which shall include the number and 
distribution of health care providers contracting with 
other health care plans (including commercial plans 
and the Medicare program under title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.)) oper-
ating in the geographic area and specialty referenced 
in the waiver request. 
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‘‘(C) Whether the service area is comprised of 
highly rural, rural, or urban areas or some combina-
tion of such areas. 
‘‘(D) How significantly the waiver request dif-
fers from the relevant access to care standards 
under subsection (b). 
‘‘(5) The Secretary shall not consider inability to con-
tract as a valid sole rationale for granting a waiver under 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(d) CALCULATION OF DRIVING TIME.—For pur-
poses of calculating average driving time from the resi-
dence of the veteran under subsections (a) and (b), the 
Secretary shall use geographic information system soft-
ware. 
‘‘(e) PERIODIC REVIEW OF ACCESS STANDARDS.— 
Not later than three years after the date of the enactment 
of the Guaranteeing Healthcare Access to Personnel Who 
Served Act, and not less frequently than once every three 
years thereafter, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct a review of the eligibility access 
standards under subsection (a) and the access to 
care standards under subsection (b), in consultation 
with— 
‘‘(A) such Federal entities as the Secretary 
considers appropriate, including the Depart-
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ment of Defense, the Department of Health and 
Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services; 
‘‘(B) entities in the private sector; and 
‘‘(C) other entities that are not part of the 
Federal Government; and 
‘‘(2) submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on— 
‘‘(A) the findings of the Secretary with re-
spect to the review conducted under paragraph 
(1); and 
‘‘(B) such recommendations as the Sec-
retary may have with respect to the eligibility 
access standards under subsection (a) and the 
access to care standards under subsection (b). 
‘‘(f) PUBLICATION OF ELIGIBILITY ACCESS STAND-
ARDS AND WAIT TIMES.—(1) The Secretary shall publish 
on a publicly available internet website of the Department 
the eligibility access standards under subsection (a). 
‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary shall publish on a publicly 
available internet website of the Department the average 
wait time for a veteran to schedule an appointment at each 
medical center of the Department for the receipt of pri-
mary care and specialty care, measured from the date of 
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request for the appointment to the date on which the care 
was provided. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall update the wait times pub-
lished under subparagraph (A) not less frequently than 
monthly.’’; 
(B) by redesignating subsections (h) and 
(i) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively; 
(C) in subsection (g), as redesignated by 
subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘des-
ignated access standards established under 
this section’’ and inserting ‘‘eligibility ac-
cess standards under subsection (a)’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking 
‘‘designated access standards established 
under this section’’ and inserting ‘‘eligi-
bility access standards under subsection 
(a)’’; and 
(D) in subsection (h), as so redesignated, 
by adding at the end the following new para-
graphs: 
‘‘(3) The term ‘inability to contract’, with re-
spect to a Third Party Administrator, means the in-
ability of the Third Party Administrator to success-
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fully negotiate and establish a community care net-
work contract with a provider or facility. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘Third Party Administrator’ 
means an entity that manages a provider network 
and performs administrative services related to such 
network within the Veterans Community Care Pro-
gram under section 1703 of this title.’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
1703(d) of such title is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking ‘‘des-
ignated access standards developed by the Sec-
retary under section 1703B of this title’’ and 
inserting ‘‘eligibility access standards under sec-
tion 1703B(a) of this title’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘des-
ignated access standards developed by the Sec-
retary under section 1703B of this title’’ and 
inserting ‘‘eligibility access standards under sec-
tion 1703B(a) of this title’’. 
(b) PREVENTION
OF SUSPENSION
OF VETERANS 
COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM.—Section 1703(a) of such 
title is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
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‘‘(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to au-
thorize the Secretary to suspend the program established 
under paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 102. STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF 
CARE IN THE CASE OF THE REALIGNMENT OF 
A MEDICAL FACILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Veterans Health Administration should 
work closely with Third Party Administrators to ensure 
that veterans do not experience a lapse of care when 
transitioning to receiving care or services under the Com-
munity Care Program due to the realignment of a medical 
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, acting through the Office of Community 
Care and the Office of Veterans Access to Care of 
the Department, shall develop and periodically up-
date a strategic plan to ensure continuity of health 
care under the Community Care Program for vet-
erans impacted by the realignment of a medical fa-
cility of the Department. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The strategic plan required 
under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, 
the following: 
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(A) An assessment of the progress of the 
Department in identifying impending realign-
ments of medical facilities of the Department 
and the impact of such realignments on the net-
work of health care providers under the Com-
munity Care Program within the catchment 
area of such facilities. 
(B) An outline of collaborative actions and 
processes the Office of Community Care and 
the Office of Veterans Access to Care of the 
Department can take to address potential gaps 
in health care created by the realignment of a 
medical facility of the Department. 
(C) A description of how the Department 
can identify to Third Party Administrators 
changes in the catchment areas of medical fa-
cilities to be realigned and develop a process 
with Third Party Administrators to strengthen 
provider coverage in advance of such realign-
ments. 
(3) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Under Secretary for Health of the Department 
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
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fairs of the House of Representatives the plan devel-
oped under paragraph (1). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMUNITY
CARE
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘Community Care Program’’ means the Veterans 
Community Care Program under section 1703 of 
title 38, United States Code. 
(2) REALIGNMENT.—The term ‘‘realignment’’, 
with respect to a facility of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, includes— 
(A) any action that changes the number of 
facilities or relocates services, functions, or per-
sonnel positions; and 
(B) strategic collaborations between the 
Department and non-Federal Government enti-
ties, including tribal organizations. 
(3) THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR.—The term 
‘‘Third Party Administrator’’ means an entity that 
manages a provider network and performs adminis-
trative services related to such network within the 
Veterans Community Care Program under section 
1703 of title 38, United States Code. 
(4) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘tribal 
organization’’ has the meaning given that term in 
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section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
Subtitle B—Community Care Self- 
Scheduling Pilot Program 
SEC. 111. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives. 
(2) COVERED
VETERAN.—The term ‘‘covered 
veteran’’ means a covered veteran under section 
1703(b) of title 38, United States Code. 
(3) PILOT
PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘pilot pro-
gram’’ means the pilot program required under sec-
tion 112(a). 
(4) VETERANS COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM.— 
The term ‘‘Veterans Community Care Program’’ 
means the program to furnish hospital care, medical 
services, and extended care services to covered vet-
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erans under section 1703 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 112. PILOT PROGRAM ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY 
CARE SELF-SCHEDULING APPOINTMENT SYS-
TEM. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall commence a pilot program under 
which covered veterans eligible for hospital care, medical 
services, or extended care services under subsection (d)(1) 
of section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, may use 
an internet website or mobile application that has the ca-
pabilities specified in section 113(a) to request, schedule, 
and confirm medical appointments with health care pro-
viders participating in the Veterans Community Care Pro-
gram. 
(b) SYSTEM EXPANSION OR DEVELOPMENT OF NEW 
SYSTEM.—In carrying out the pilot program, the Sec-
retary may expand capabilities of an existing self-sched-
uling appointment system of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs or develop a new self-scheduling system mobile ap-
plication or internet website. 
(c) CONTRACT AUTHORITY FOR DEVELOPING A NEW 
SYSTEM.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary elects to de-
velop a new self-scheduling system under subsection 
(b), the Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract 
using competitive procedures with one or more con-
tractors to provide the capabilities specified in sec-
tion 113(a). 
(2) NOTICE OF COMPETITION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary elects 
to develop a new system under subsection (b), 
not later than 60 days after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a 
request for proposals to provide the capabilities 
specified in section 113(a). 
(B) OPEN TO ANY CONTRACTOR.—A re-
quest for proposals under subparagraph (A) 
shall be full and open to any contractor that 
has an existing commercially available, off-the- 
shelf, online patient self-scheduling system that 
includes the capabilities specified in section 
113(a). 
(3) SELECTION.—If the Secretary elects to de-
velop a new self-scheduling system under subsection 
(b), not later than 120 days after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall award a con-
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tract to one or more contractors pursuant to the re-
quest for proposals under paragraph (2)(A). 
(d) SELECTION OF LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall 
select not fewer than five Veterans Integrated Services 
Networks of the Department in which to carry out the 
pilot program. 
(e) DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
program for an 18-month period. 
(2) EXTENSION.—The Secretary may extend 
the duration of the pilot program and may expand 
the selection of Veterans Integrated Services Net-
works under subsection (d) if the Secretary deter-
mines that the pilot program is reducing the wait 
times of veterans seeking hospital care, medical serv-
ices, or extended care services under the Veterans 
Community Care Program. 
(f) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall ensure that vet-
erans participating in the Veterans Community Care Pro-
gram in Veterans Integrated Services Networks in which 
the pilot program is being carried out are informed about 
the pilot program. 
(g) MOBILE APPLICATION DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘mobile application’’ means a software pro-
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gram that runs on the operating system of a cellular tele-
phone, tablet computer, or similar portable computing de-
vice that transmits data over a wireless connection. 
SEC. 113. CAPABILITIES OF SELF-SCHEDULING APPOINT-
MENT SYSTEM. 
(a) MINIMUM CAPABILITIES.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall ensure that the self-scheduling appoint-
ment system used in the pilot program includes, at a min-
imum, the following capabilities: 
(1) Capability to request, schedule, modify, and 
cancel appointments for primary care, specialty care, 
and mental health care under the Veterans Commu-
nity Care Program with regard to each category of 
eligibility under section 1703(d)(1) of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(2) Capability to support appointments for the 
provision of health care under the Veterans Commu-
nity Care Program regardless of whether such care 
is provided in person or through telehealth services. 
(3) Capability to view appointment availability 
in real time to the extent practicable. 
(4) Capability to load relevant patient informa-
tion from the Decision Support Tool of the Depart-
ment or any other information technology system of 
the Department used to determine the eligibility of 
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veterans for health care under section 1703(d)(1) of 
title 38, United States Code. 
(5) Capability to search for providers and facili-
ties participating in the Veterans Community Care 
Program based on distance from the residential ad-
dress of a veteran. 
(6) Capability to provide telephonic and elec-
tronic contact information for all such providers that 
do not offer online scheduling at the time. 
(7) Capability to store and print authorization 
letters for veterans for health care under the Vet-
erans Community Care Program. 
(8) Capability to provide prompts or reminders 
to veterans to schedule initial appointments or fol-
low-up appointments. 
(9) Capability to be used 24 hours per day, 
seven days per week. 
(10) Capability to integrate with the Veterans 
Health Information Systems and Technology Archi-
tecture of the Department, or any successor infor-
mation technology system of the Department. 
(11) Capability to integrate with information 
technology systems of Third Party Administrators. 
(b) 
INDEPENDENT
VALIDATION
AND 
VERIFICATION.— 
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(1) INDEPENDENT ENTITY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
seek to enter into an agreement with an appro-
priate nongovernmental, not-for-profit entity 
with expertise in health information technology 
to independently validate and verify that the 
self-scheduling appointment system used in the 
pilot program includes the capabilities specified 
in subsection (a). 
(B) TIMING.—The independent validation 
and verification conducted under subparagraph 
(A) shall be completed before the fielding of the 
self-scheduling appointment system used in the 
pilot program to the first Veterans Integrated 
Services Network of the Department in which 
the pilot program is to be carried out. 
(2) GAO EVALUATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall evaluate the vali-
dation and verification conducted under para-
graph (1). 
(B) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date on which the Comptroller General 
completes the evaluation under paragraph (1), 
the Comptroller General shall submit to the ap-
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propriate congressional committees a report on 
such evaluation. 
(c) CERTIFICATION.— 
(1) CAPABILITIES INCLUDED.—Not later than 
May 31, 2022, the Secretary shall certify to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 
Representatives that the self-scheduling appointment 
system used in the pilot program and any other pa-
tient self-scheduling appointment system developed 
or used by the Department of Veterans Affairs as of 
the date of the certification to schedule appoint-
ments under the Veterans Community Care Pro-
gram includes the capabilities specified in subsection 
(a). 
(2) NEW SYSTEMS.—If the Secretary develops a 
new self-scheduling appointment system to schedule 
appointments under the Veterans Community Care 
Program that is not covered by a certification made 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall certify to 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives that such new system in-
cludes the capabilities specified in subsection (a) by 
not later than the date that is 30 days after the date 
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on which the Secretary determines to replace the 
previous self-scheduling appointment system. 
(3) REPLACEMENT
OF
SYSTEMS
NOT
CER-
TIFIED.—If the Secretary does not make a timely 
certification under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2), 
as the case may be, the Secretary shall replace any 
self-scheduling appointment system used by the Sec-
retary to schedule appointments under the Veterans 
Community Care Program that is in use with a com-
mercially available, off-the-shelf, online self-sched-
uling appointment system that includes the capabili-
ties specified in subsection (a). 
(d) THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘Third Party Administrator’’ means 
an entity that manages a provider network and performs 
administrative services related to such network within the 
Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 
of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 114. REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that includes— 
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(1) an assessment by the Secretary of the pilot 
program during the 180-day period preceding the 
date of the report, including— 
(A) the cost of the pilot program; 
(B) the volume of usage of the self-sched-
uling appointment system under the pilot pro-
gram; 
(C) the quality of the pilot program; 
(D) patient satisfaction with the pilot pro-
gram; 
(E) benefits to veterans of using the pilot 
program; 
(F) the feasibility of allowing self-sched-
uling for different specialties under the pilot 
program; 
(G) participating in the pilot program by 
health care providers under the Veterans Com-
munity Care Program; and 
(H) such other findings and conclusions 
with respect to the pilot program as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate; and 
(2) such recommendations as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate regarding— 
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(A) extension of the pilot program to other 
or all Veterans Integrated Service Networks of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
(B) making the pilot program permanent. 
Subtitle C—Non-Department of 
Veterans Affairs Providers 
SEC. 121. CREDENTIALING VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 
FOR PROVIDERS OF NON-DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE SERV-
ICES. 
(a) 
CREDENTIALING
VERIFICATION
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting after section 1703E the following new sec-
tion: 
‘‘§ 1703F. Credentialing verification requirements for 
providers of non-Department health care 
services 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
Third Party Administrators and credentials verification 
organizations comply with the requirements specified in 
subsection (b) to help ensure certain health care providers 
are excluded from providing non-Department health care 
services. 
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‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS
SPECIFIED.—The Secretary 
shall require Third Party Administrators and credentials 
verification organizations to carry out the following: 
‘‘(1) Hold and maintain an active credential 
verification accreditation from a national health care 
accreditation body. 
‘‘(2) Conduct initial verification of provider his-
tory and license sanctions for all States and United 
States territories for a period of time— 
‘‘(A) that includes the period before the 
provider 
began 
providing 
non-Department 
health care services; and 
‘‘(B) dating back not less than 10 years. 
‘‘(3) Not less frequently than every three years, 
perform recredentialing, including verifying provider 
history and license sanctions for all States and 
United States territories. 
‘‘(4) Implement continuous monitoring of each 
provider through the National Practitioner Data 
Bank established pursuant to the Health Care Qual-
ity Improvement Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. 11101 et 
seq.). 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘credentials verification organiza-
tion’ means an entity that manages the provider 
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credentialing process and performs credentialing 
verification for non-Department providers that par-
ticipate in the Veterans Community Care Program 
under section 1703 of this title through a Veterans 
Care Agreement. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘Third Party Administrator’ 
means an entity that manages a provider network 
and performs administrative services related to such 
network within the Veterans Community Care Pro-
gram under section 1703 of this title. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘Veterans Care Agreement’ 
means an agreement for non-Department health 
care services entered into under section 1703A of 
this title. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘non-Department health care 
services’ means services— 
‘‘(A) provided under this subchapter at 
non-Department facilities (as defined in section 
1701 of this title); 
‘‘(B) provided under section 101 of the 
Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act 
of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 
note); 
‘‘(C) purchased through the Medical Com-
munity Care account of the Department; or 
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‘‘(D) purchased with amounts deposited in 
the Veterans Choice Fund under section 802 of 
the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability 
Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 
1701 note).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such subchapter is amend-
ed by inserting after the item relating to section 
1703E the following new item: 
‘‘1703F. Credentialing verification requirements for providers of non-Depart-
ment health care services.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE
FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence the im-
plementation of section 1703F of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a)(1). 
SEC. 122. INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVIDERS TO 
PROVIDE NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS CARE. 
Section 108 of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (Public 
Law 115–182; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsection (d): 
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‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—The requirement to deny or re-
voke the eligibility of a health care provider to provide 
non-Department health care services to veterans under 
subsection (a) shall apply to any removal under paragraph 
(1) of such subsection or violation under paragraph (2) 
of such subsection that occurred on or after the date that 
is five years before the date of the enactment of this Act.’’. 
TITLE 
II—IMPROVEMENT 
OF 
RURAL HEALTH AND TELE-
HEALTH 
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF STRATEGIC PLAN REQUIRE-
MENT FOR OFFICE OF CONNECTED CARE OF 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) The COVID–19 pandemic caused the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs to exponentially in-
crease telehealth and virtual care modalities, includ-
ing VA Video Connect, to deliver health care services 
to veteran patients. 
(2) Between January 2020 and January 2021, 
the number of telehealth appointments offered by 
the Department increased by 1,831 percent. 
(3) The Department maintains strategic part-
nerships, such as the Digital Divide Consult, with a 
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goal of ensuring veterans who reside in rural, highly 
rural, or medically underserved areas have access to 
high-quality telehealth services offered by the De-
partment. 
(4) As of 2019, veterans who reside in rural 
and highly rural areas make up approximately 1⁄3 of 
veteran enrollees in the patient enrollment system, 
and are on average, older than their veteran peers 
in urban areas, experience higher degrees of finan-
cial instability, and live with a greater number of 
complex health needs and comorbidities. 
(5) The Federal Communications Commission 
estimated in 2020 that 15 percent of veteran house-
holds do not have an internet connection. 
(6) Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and 
Economic Security Act (Public Law 116–136), Con-
gress granted the Department additional authority 
to enter into short-term agreements or contracts 
with private sector telecommunications companies to 
provide certain broadband services for the purposes 
of providing expanded mental health services to iso-
lated veterans through telehealth or VA Video Con-
nect during a public health emergency. 
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(7) The authority described in paragraph (6) 
was not utilized to the fullest extent by the Depart-
ment. 
(8) Though the Department has made signifi-
cant progress in expanding telehealth services of-
fered to veterans who are enrolled in the patient en-
rollment system, significant gaps still exist to ensure 
all veterans receive equal and high-quality access to 
virtual care. 
(9) Questions regarding the efficacy of using 
telehealth for certain health care services and speci-
alities remain, and should be further studied. 
(10) The Department continues to expand tele-
health and virtual care offerings for primary care, 
mental health care, specialty care, urgent care, and 
even remote intensive care units. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the telehealth services offered by the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs should be routinely measured 
and evaluated to ensure the telehealth technologies and 
modalities delivered to veteran patients to treat a wide va-
riety of health conditions are as effective as in-person 
treatment for primary care, mental health care, and other 
forms of specialty care. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the Office 
of Connected Care of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, shall develop a strategic plan to ensure the 
effectiveness of the telehealth technologies and mo-
dalities delivered by the Department to veterans who 
are enrolled in the patient enrollment system. 
(2) UPDATE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall up-
date the strategic plan required under para-
graph (1) not less frequently than once every 
three years following development of the plan. 
(B) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall 
prepare any update required under subpara-
graph (A) in consultation with the following: 
(i) The Chief Officer of the Office of 
Connected Care of the Department. 
(ii) The Executive Director of Tele-
health Services of the Office of Connected 
Care. 
(iii) The Executive Director of Con-
nected Health of the Office of Connected 
Care. 
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(iv) The Executive Director of the Of-
fice of Rural Health of the Department. 
(v) The Executive Director of Solution 
Delivery, IT Operations and Services of 
the Office of Information and Technology 
of the Department. 
(3) ELEMENTS.—The strategic plan required 
under paragraph (1), and any update to that plan 
under paragraph (2), shall include, at a minimum, 
the following: 
(A) A comprehensive list of all health care 
specialities the Department is currently deliv-
ering by telehealth or virtual care. 
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness and 
patient outcomes for each type of health care 
speciality delivered by telehealth or virtual care 
by the Department. 
(C) An assessment of satisfaction of vet-
erans in receiving care through telehealth or 
virtual care disaggregated by age group and by 
Veterans Integrated Service Network. 
(D) An assessment of the percentage of 
virtual visits delivered by the Department 
through each modality including standard tele-
phone telehealth, VA Video Connect, and the 
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Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Sta-
tions program of the Department. 
(E) An outline of all current partnerships 
maintained by the Department to bolster tele-
health or virtual care services for veterans. 
(F) An assessment of the barriers faced by 
the Department in delivering telehealth or vir-
tual care services to veterans residing in rural 
and highly rural areas, and the strategies the 
Department is deploying beyond purchasing 
hardware for veterans who are enrolled in the 
patient enrollment system. 
(G) A detailed plan illustrating how the 
Department is working with other Federal 
agencies, including the Department of Health 
and Human Services, the Department of Agri-
culture, the Federal Communications Commis-
sion, and the National Telecommunications and 
Information 
Administration, 
to 
enhance 
connectivity in rural, highly rural, and medi-
cally underserved areas to better reach all vet-
erans. 
(H) The feasibility and advisability of 
partnering with Federally qualified health cen-
ters, rural health clinics, and critical access hos-
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pitals to fill the gap for health care services 
that exists for veterans who reside in rural and 
highly rural areas. 
(I) An evaluation of the number of vet-
erans who are enrolled in the patient enrollment 
system who have previously received care under 
the Veterans Community Care Program under 
section 1703 of title 38, United States Code. 
(d) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 
days after the development of the strategic plan under 
paragraph (1) of subsection (c), and not later than 180 
days after each update under paragraph (2) of such sub-
section thereafter, 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 report that includes the following: 
(1) The completed strategic plan or update, as 
the case may be. 
(2) An identification of areas of improvement 
by the Department in the delivery of telehealth and 
virtual care services to veterans who are enrolled in 
the patient enrollment system, with a timeline for 
improvements to be implemented. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.— 
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(1) PATIENT ENROLLMENT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘patient enrollment system’’ means the system of 
annual patient enrollment of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs established and operated under section 
1705(a) of title 38, United States Code. 
(2) 
RURAL; 
HIGHLY
RURAL.—The 
terms 
‘‘rural’’ and ‘‘highly rural’’ have the meanings given 
those terms in the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas 
coding system of the Department of Agriculture. 
(3) VA VIDEO CONNECT.—The term ‘‘VA Video 
Connect’’ means the program of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to connect veterans with their 
health care team from anywhere, using encryption to 
ensure a secure and private connection. 
(4) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101(2) of title 
38, United States Code. 
SEC. 202. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON TRANSPOR-
TATION SERVICES BY THIRD PARTIES FOR 
RURAL VETERANS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
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resentatives a report on the program established under 
section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the program described in 
such subsection, including descriptions of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The purpose of the program. 
(B) The activities carried out under the 
program. 
(2) An assessment of the sufficiency of the pro-
gram with respect to the purpose of the program. 
(3) An assessment of the cost effectiveness of 
the program in comparison to alternatives. 
(4) An assessment of the health benefits for 
veterans who have participated in the program. 
(5) An assessment of the sufficiency of staffing 
of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
who are responsible for facilitating the maintenance 
of the program. 
(6) An assessment, with respect to the purpose 
of the program, of the number of vehicles owned by 
and operating in conjunction with the program. 
(7) An assessment of the awareness and usage 
of the program by veterans and their families. 
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(8) An assessment of other options for trans-
portation under the program, such as local taxi com-
panies and ridesharing programs such as Uber and 
Lyft. 
SEC. 203. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON TELE-
HEALTH SERVICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States 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 on telehealth services provided by the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include an assessment of the following: 
(1) The telehealth and virtual health care pro-
grams of the Department of Veterans Affairs, in-
cluding VA Video Connect. 
(2) The challenges faced by the Department in 
delivering telehealth and virtual health care to vet-
erans who reside in rural and highly rural areas due 
to lack of connectivity in many rural areas. 
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(3) Any mitigation strategies used by the De-
partment to overcome connectivity barriers for vet-
erans who reside in rural and highly rural areas. 
(4) The partnerships entered into by the Office 
of Connected Care of the Department in an effort to 
bolster telehealth services. 
(5) The extent to which the Department has ex-
amined the effectiveness of health care services pro-
vided to veterans through telehealth in comparison 
to in-person treatment. 
(6) Satisfaction of veterans with respect to the 
telehealth services provided by the Department. 
(7) The use by the Department of telehealth 
appointments in comparison to referrals to care 
under the Veterans Community Care Program under 
section 1703 of title 38, United States Code. 
(8) Such other areas as the Comptroller Gen-
eral considers appropriate. 
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TITLE III—FOREIGN MEDICAL 
PROGRAM 
SEC. 301. ANALYSIS OF FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF 
EXPANDING ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO 
CAREGIVERS TO INCLUDE CAREGIVERS OF 
VETERANS IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL-
IPPINES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Although section 161 of the VA MISSION 
Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–182; 132 Stat. 1438) 
expanded the program of comprehensive assistance 
for family caregivers of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs under section 1720G(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, to veterans of all eras, it did not ex-
pand the program to family caregivers for veterans 
overseas. 
(2) Although caregivers for veterans overseas 
can access online resources as part of the program 
of support services for caregivers of veterans under 
subsection (b) section 1720G of such title, those 
caregivers miss out on all of the comprehensive serv-
ices and benefits provided under subsection (a) of 
such section. 
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(3) The Department has an outpatient clinic 
and a regional benefits office in Manila, Republic of 
the Philippines, and the Foreign Medical Program of 
the Department under section 1724 of such title is 
used heavily in the Republic of the Philippines by 
veterans who live in that country. 
(4) Due to the presence of facilities of the De-
partment in the Republic of the Philippines and the 
number of veterans who reside there, that country is 
a suitable test case to analyze the feasibility and ad-
visability of expanding caregiver support to care-
givers of veterans overseas. 
(b) ANALYSIS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall complete an analysis of the feasibility 
and advisability of making assistance and support under 
section 1720G(a) of title 38, United States Code, available 
to caregivers of veterans in the Republic of the Phil-
ippines. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the con-
clusion of the analysis conducted under subsection (b), the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives a report that in-
cludes the following: 
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(1) The results of such analysis. 
(2) An assessment of the number of veterans 
who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system 
and reside in the Republic of the Philippines. 
(3) An assessment of the number of veterans 
who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system 
and reside in the Republic of the Philippines that 
have a caregiver to provide them personal care serv-
ices described in section 1720G(a)(C) of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(4) An assessment of the staffing needs and as-
sociated cost of making assistance and support to 
available to caregivers of veterans in the Republic of 
the Philippines. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CAREGIVER.—The term ‘‘caregiver’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 1720G(d) of title 
38, United States Code. 
(2) PATIENT ENROLLMENT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘patient enrollment system’’ means the system of 
annual patient enrollment of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs established and operated under section 
1705(a) of such title. 
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(3) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101(2) of such 
title. 
SEC. 302. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON FOREIGN 
MEDICAL PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
on the Foreign Medical Program. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include, for the most recent five fiscal years for 
which data are available, an assessment of the following: 
(1) The number of veterans who live overseas 
and are eligible for the Foreign Medical Program. 
(2) The number of veterans who live overseas, 
are registered for the Foreign Medical Program, and 
use such program. 
(3) The number of veterans who live overseas, 
are registered for the Foreign Medical Program, and 
do not use such program. 
(4) The number of veterans who are eligible for 
care furnished by the Department of Veterans Af-
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fairs, live in the United States, including territories 
of the United States, and make use of such care, in-
cluding through the Veterans Community Care Pro-
gram under section 1703 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(5) Any challenges faced by the Department in 
administering the Foreign Medical Program, includ-
ing— 
(A) outreach to veterans on eligibility for 
such program and ensuring veterans who live 
overseas are aware of such program; 
(B) executing timely reimbursements of 
claims by veterans under such program; and 
(C) need for and use of translation serv-
ices. 
(6) Any trends relating to— 
(A) the timeliness of processing by the De-
partment of claims under the Foreign Medical 
Program and reimbursement of veterans under 
such program; 
(B) types of care or treatment sought by 
veterans who live overseas that is reimbursed 
under such program; and 
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(C) types of care or treatment eligible for 
reimbursement under such program that vet-
erans have difficulty accessing overseas. 
(7) Any barriers or obstacles cited by veterans 
who live overseas who are registered for the Foreign 
Medical Program, including any differences between 
veterans who use the program and veterans who do 
not. 
(8) Satisfaction of veterans who live overseas 
with the Foreign Medical Program. 
(9) Such other areas as the Comptroller Gen-
eral considers appropriate. 
(c) FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAM DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘Foreign Medical Program’’ means the 
program under with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pro-
vides hospital care and medical services under section 
1724 of title 38, United States Code. 
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TITLE IV—MENTAL HEALTH 
CARE 
SEC. 401. ANALYSIS OF FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PRO-
VIDING EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENTS FOR 
THE DIAGNOSIS OF TREATMENT-RESISTANT 
DEPRESSION. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) A systematic review in 2019 of the econom-
ics and quality of life relating to treatment-resistant 
depression summarized that major depressive dis-
order (in this subsection referred to as ‘‘MDD’’) is 
a global public health concern and that treatment- 
resistant depression in particular represents a key 
unmet need. The findings of that review highlighted 
the need for improved therapies for treatment-resist-
ant depression to reduce disease burden, lower med-
ical costs, and improve the quality of life of patients. 
(2) The Clinical Practice Guideline for the 
Management of MDD (in this subsection referred to 
as the ‘‘CPG’’) developed jointly by the Department 
of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense 
defines treatment-resistant depression as at least 
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two adequate treatment trials and lack of full re-
sponse to each. 
(3) The CPG recommends electro-convulsive 
therapy (in this subsection referred to as ‘‘ECT’’) as 
a treatment strategy for patients who have failed 
multiple other treatment strategies. 
(4) The CPG recommends offering repetitive 
transcranial magnetic stimulation (in this subsection 
referred to as ‘‘rTMS’’), an intervention that is indi-
cated by the Food and Drug Administration, for 
treatment during a major depressive episode in pa-
tients with treatment-resistant MDD. 
(5) The final report of the Creating Options for 
Veterans’ Expedited Recovery Commission (com-
monly referred to as the ‘‘COVER Commission’’) es-
tablished under section 931 of the Jason Simcakoski 
Memorial and Promise Act (title IX of Public Law 
114–198; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) found that treat-
ment-resistant depression is a major issue through-
out the mental health treatment system, and that an 
estimated 50 percent of depressed patients are inad-
equately treated by available interventions. 
(6) The COVER Commission also reported data 
collected from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
that found that only approximately 1,166 patients 
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throughout the Department were referred for ECT 
in 2018 and only approximately 772 patients were 
referred for rTMS during that year. 
(b) ANALYSIS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall complete an analysis of the feasibility 
and advisability of making repetitive transcranial mag-
netic stimulation available at all medical facilities of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and electro-convulsive 
therapy available at one medical center located within each 
Veterans Integrated Service Network for the treatment of 
veterans who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system 
and have a diagnosis of treatment-resistant depression. 
(c) INCLUSION OF ASSESSMENT OF REPORT.—The 
analysis conducted under subsection (b) shall include an 
assessment of the final report of the COVER Commission 
submitted under section 931(e)(2) of the Jason 
Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act (title IX of Public 
Law 114–198; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note). 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the con-
clusion of the analysis conducted under subsection (b), the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives a report that in-
cludes the following: 
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who have a diagnosis of treatment-resistant depres-
sion. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) PATIENT ENROLLMENT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘patient enrollment system’’ means the system of 
annual patient enrollment of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs established and operated under section 
1705(a) of title 38, United States Code. 
(2) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101(2) of title 
38, United States Code. 
SEC. 402. MODIFICATION OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION SYS-
TEM TO INCLUDE PEER SPECIALISTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall modify the Veterans Equitable Re-
source Allocation system, or successor system, to ensure 
that resource allocations under such system, or successor 
system, include peer specialists appointed under section 
7402(b)(13) of title 38, United States Code. 
(b) VETERANS EQUITABLE RESOURCE ALLOCATION 
SYSTEM DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Veterans 
Equitable Resource Allocation system’’ means the re-
source allocation system established pursuant to section 
429 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and House 
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and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Ap-
propriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104–204; 110 Stat. 
2929). 
SEC. 403. GAP ANALYSIS OF PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC INTER-
VENTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall complete a gap analysis throughout the 
entire health care system of the Veterans Health Adminis-
tration on the use and availability of psychotherapeutic 
interventions recommended in widely used clinical practice 
guidelines as recommended in the final report of the 
COVER Commission submitted under section 931(e)(2) of 
the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act (title IX 
of Public Law 114–198; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The gap analysis required under 
subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of the psychotherapeutic 
interventions available and routinely delivered to vet-
erans at medical centers of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs within each Veterans Integrated Serv-
ice Network of the Department. 
(2) An assessment of the barriers faced by med-
ical centers of the Department in offering certain 
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psychotherapeutic interventions and why those inter-
ventions are not widely implemented or are excluded 
from implementation throughout the entire health 
care system of the Veterans Health Administration. 
(c) REPORT AND PLAN.—Not later than 180 days 
after completing the gap analysis under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives— 
(1) a report on the results of the analysis; and 
(2) a plan with measurable, time-limited steps 
for the Department to implement— 
(A) to address the gaps that limit access of 
veterans to care; and 
(B) to treat various mental health condi-
tions across the entire health care system of the 
Veterans Health Administration. 
TITLE V—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 501. ONLINE HEALTH CARE EDUCATION PORTAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall establish an online health care edu-
cation portal to ensure veterans enrolled in the patient en-
rollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, are 
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aware of the health care services provided by the Depart-
ment and understand their basic health care entitlements 
under the laws administered by the Secretary. 
(b) INTERACTIVE MODULES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The health care education 
portal established under subsection (a) shall include, 
at a minimum, interactive online educational mod-
ules on the following: 
(A) Health care from the Veterans Health 
Administration in the community, including 
under the Veterans Community Care Program 
under section 1703 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(B) Telehealth services. 
(C) The appeals process for the Veterans 
Health Administration. 
(D) Patient aligned care teams. 
(E) Mental health care services. 
(F) Suicide prevention services. 
(G) Specialty care services. 
(H) Dental health services. 
(I) Women’s health services. 
(J) Navigating the publicly accessible 
internet websites and mobile applications of the 
Veterans Health Administration. 
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(K) Vaccinations offered through the Vet-
erans Health Administration. 
(L) Toxic exposure. 
(M) Military sexual trauma. 
(N) Topics set forth under section 121(b) 
of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–182; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note). 
(2) MODULE
UPDATES.—The Secretary shall 
update the curriculum content of the modules de-
scribed in paragraph (1) not less frequently than an-
nually to ensure such modules contain the most cur-
rent information on the module topic. 
(c) HEALTH CARE EDUCATION PORTAL REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that the health care 
education portal established under subsection (a) meets 
the following requirements: 
(1) The portal is directly accessible from— 
(A) the main home page of the publicly ac-
cessible internet website of the Department; 
and 
(B) the main home page of the publicly ac-
cessible internet website of each medical center 
of the Department. 
(2) The portal is easily understandable and usa-
ble by the general public. 
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