I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8005 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program 
to provide veterans access to computerized cognitive behavioral therapy. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 11, 2020 
Mr. GOLDEN (for himself and Mr. BANKS) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
a pilot program to provide veterans access to computer-
ized cognitive behavioral therapy. 
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 ‘‘Veterans Access to 
Online Treatment Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VETERANS ACCESS 
TO COMPUTERIZED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL 
THERAPY. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.— 
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(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 dis-
order, military sexual trauma, or substance use dis-
order, or a combination thereof, who are already re-
ceiving 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 vet-
erans. 
(3) CONTINUATION OF PROGRAMS.—The Sec-
retary may— 
(A) continue any cognitive behavioral ther-
apy 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 assess-
ment 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 
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of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and op-
erated 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 pro-
gram under subsection (a). 
(2) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting facili-
ties under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure 
that— 
(A) the locations are in geographically di-
verse areas; and 
(B) not fewer than two facilities serve vet-
erans in rural or highly rural areas. 
(e) ACCESS TO CHAT.—In carrying out the pilot pro-
gram 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 
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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 cog-
nitive behavioral therapy programs con-
ducted by the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs were used in the assessment under 
clause (ii). 
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(ii) An assessment of whether partici-
pation by a veteran in the pilot program 
resulted in any changes in clinically rel-
evant endpoints for the veteran with re-
spect to the conditions specified in sub-
section (a)(1). 
(iii) Any recommendations of the Sec-
retary with respect to extending or expand-
ing 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’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 1703(i)(2)(B) of title 
38, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘Veterans Crisis Line’’ means the 
toll-free hotline for veterans established under sec-
tion 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code. 
Æ 
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