Title: TREAT Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Testing, Researching, and Expanding Alternative Treatments Act or the TREAT Act
This bill addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot programs related to complementary and integrative health services.
Specifically, the bill requires the VA to expand the pilot program on using complementary and integrative health services (e.g., meditation) to complement pain management and mental health treatment for veterans.
The bill also requires the VA to implement a three-year pilot program to provide complementary and integrative health services (e.g., animal therapy) to eligible veterans for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety. Eligible veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system and have received care from the VA or rehabilitation or counseling services from a Vet Center within the last two years. The VA must enter agreements with academic researchers to study the effectiveness of the treatments in the pilot program.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8147 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8147

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand an existing pilot 
program, and to establish a new pilot program, related to complementary 
             and integrative health services for veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 1, 2020

  Mr. Lamb (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand an existing pilot 
program, and to establish a new pilot program, related to complementary 
             and integrative health services for veterans.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Testing, Researching, and Expanding 
Alternative Treatments Act'' or the ``TREAT Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF CERTAIN COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH 
              SERVICES.

    (a) Plan Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop 
a plan to expand the pilot program under section 933 of the Jason 
Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act (title IX of Public Law 114-198; 38 
U.S.C. 1701 note).
    (b) Assessment; Elements.--The plan under subsection (a) shall 
include provisions for assessing the implementation of the plan and the 
effectiveness of services and programs described in subsection (f) of 
that section 933, including--
            (1) the use and efficacy of complementary and integrative 
        health services delivered through the pilot program for 
        addressing mental health, pain management, and treatment of 
        chronic illness;
            (2) the outreach conducted by the Secretary to inform 
        veterans and community organizations of such services; and
            (3) the experiences of veterans who received such services.
    (c) Treatments Described.--Complementary and integrative health 
treatments described in this subjection shall consist of the following:
            (1) Yoga.
            (2) Meditation.
            (3) Acupuncture.
            (4) Chiropractic care.
            (5) Other treatments that show sufficient evidence of 
        efficacy at treating mental or physical health conditions, as 
        determined by the Secretary.
    (d) Implementation.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall implement the plan under 
subsection (a).
    (e) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
on activities carried out under this section, including--
            (1) the assessment under subsection (b);
            (2) implementation under subsection (d); and
            (3) such recommendations regarding the furnishing of 
        complementary and integrative health treatments described in 
        subsection (c) the Secretary determines appropriate.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VETERANS ACCESS TO COMPLEMENTARY AND 
              INTEGRATIVE HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH ANIMAL THERAPY, 
              AGRITHERAPY, AND ADAPTIVE SPORTS, RECREATION, AND OUTDOOR 
              ADVENTURE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence 
the conduct of a pilot program to provide complementary and integrative 
health services described in subsection (b) to eligible veterans from 
the Department of Veterans Affairs or through the use of non-Department 
entities for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, 
depression, anxiety, or other conditions as determined by the 
Secretary.
    (b) Treatments Described.--Complementary and integrative health 
treatments described in this subsection shall consist of the following:
            (1) Equine assisted therapy.
            (2) Other animal therapy.
            (3) Agritherapy.
            (4) Post-traumatic growth programming.
            (5) Adaptive sports, recreation, and outdoor adventure.
    (c) Eligible Veterans.--A veteran is eligible to participate in the 
pilot program under this section if the veteran--
            (1) is enrolled in the system of patient enrollment of the 
        Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States 
        Code; and
            (2) during the two-year period preceding the initial 
        participation of the veteran in the pilot program--
                    (A) has received health care under the laws 
                administered by the Secretary; or
                    (B) has received rehabilitation and counseling 
                services from a Vet Center.
    (d) Duration.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
        program under this section for a three-year period beginning on 
        the commencement of the pilot program.
            (2) Extension.--The Secretary may extend the duration of 
        the pilot program under this section if the Secretary, based on 
        the results of the interim report submitted under subsection 
        (f)(1), determines that it is appropriate to do so.
    (e) Locations.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall select not fewer than 
        five facilities of the Department at which to carry out the 
        pilot program under this section.
            (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 three facilities serve veterans 
                in rural or highly rural areas (as determined through 
                the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding 
                system of the Department of Agriculture).
    (f) Research on Effectiveness of Treatment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
        program in conjunction with academic researchers affiliated 
        with the Department of Veterans Affairs, including through 
        agreements under paragraph (2), in order for those researchers 
        to study the effectiveness of the treatments described in 
        subsection (b).
            (2) Agreements.--Before commencing the pilot program, the 
        Secretary shall seek to enter into agreements with academic 
        researchers to ensure robust data collection and gathering 
        procedures are in place under the pilot program in order to 
        produce peer-reviewed journal articles.
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) Interim report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
                commencement of the pilot program under this section, 
                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.
                            (ii) The type or types of therapy offered 
                        at each facility at which the pilot program is 
                        being carried out.
                            (iii) 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).
                            (iv) An assessment of effect on quality of 
                        life and well-being of veterans participating 
                        in the pilot program, including the results of 
                        a satisfaction survey of the participants in 
                        the pilot program, disaggregated by treatment 
                        under subsection (b).
                            (v) An assessment of whether the pilot 
                        program is effective in increasing the 
                        adherence of veterans to mental health 
                        treatment for the conditions described in 
                        subsection (a).
                            (vi) The determination of the Secretary 
                        with respect to extending the pilot program 
                        under subsection (d)(2).
                            (vii) Any recommendations of the Secretary 
                        with respect to expanding the pilot program.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        termination of the pilot program under this section, 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.
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