Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act

Bill: 115-hr-874
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2]
Introduced: 2017-02-06
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs

Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Hospital care

Mental health

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2017-02-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-02-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p> <strong>Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), upon the request of a veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system and entitled to in-patient psychiatric care, to furnish such veteran with in-patient psychiatric care at: (1) the VA facility that is closest to where the veteran resides and that has the capacity and capability to provide such care, or (2) at a non-VA facility if the VA facility lacks such capacity or capability.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 874 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 6, 2017 Mr. Loebsack (for himself, Mr. Stivers , Mrs. Bustos , Mr. Lewis of Georgia , Ms. Kelly of Illinois , Mr. Weber of Texas , Mr. LoBiondo , Mr. Himes , Mr. Vargas , Mr. Barletta , Mrs. Napolitano , Mr. Lipinski , Mr. O'Rourke , Mr. McCaul , Mr. Thomas J. Rooney of Florida , Mr. Quigley , Mr. Olson , Mr. Gallego , Mr. Delaney , Mr. Garamendi , Mr. Sablan , Mr. Curbelo of Florida , Ms. Slaughter , Mr. Jones , Mr. Cooper , Mr. Sessions , Mr. Denham , Mr. Gibbs , Mr. Young of Alaska , Mr. Cárdenas , Mr. Valadao , Mr. King of New York , Mr. Paulsen , Mrs. Radewagen , Mr. Vela , Ms. Shea-Porter , Mr. Soto , Ms. Gabbard , Mr. Ryan of Ohio , Mr. Emmer , Mr. Goodlatte , Mr. Swalwell of California , and Mr. Katko ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that certain veterans receive in-patient psychiatric care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act . 2. Provision of in-patient psychiatric care for veterans (a) In general Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1720H the following new section: 1720I. Provision of in-patient psychiatric care (a) Requirement To furnish care Except as provided by subsection (b), upon the request of a covered veteran, the Secretary shall furnish, or continue to furnish, to the covered veteran in-patient psychiatric care at the facility of the Department that— (1) is closest to where the veteran resides; and (2) has the capacity and capability to provide such care. (b) Non-Department facilities (1) If the Secretary determines, on a case-by-case basis, that a facility of the Department does not have the capability or capacity to furnish in-patient psychiatric care to a covered veteran pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall furnish such care to such veteran at a non-Department facility. (2) For purposes of determining the rates of reimbursement for a non-Department facility that furnishes in-patient psychiatric care pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall treat such non-Department facility as a health care provider being reimbursed pursuant to section 101(d)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–146 ). (c) Covered veteran defined In this section, the term covered veteran means a veteran who is— (1) enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of this title; and (2) entitled to in-patient psychiatric care furnished by the Secretary under this chapter. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1720H the following new item: 1720I. Provision of in-patient psychiatric care. .