Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act

Bill: 116-hr-2997
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2]
Introduced: 2019-05-23
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: 2019-06-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-05-23
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) to furnish inpatient psychiatric care upon request by a covered veteran 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. A covered veteran is a veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system and is entitled to inpatient psychiatric care.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2997 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2019 Mr. Loebsack (for himself, Mr. Stivers , Mrs. Bustos , Ms. Finkenauer , Mrs. Axne , Mr. Vela , Mr. Lipinski , Mr. McCaul , Ms. Gabbard , Mrs. Dingell , Mr. Soto , Mr. Gaetz , Mr. Cooper , Mr. Moulton , Mr. Ryan , Mr. Katko , Mr. Gibbs , Mr. Himes , Mr. Cox of California , Mr. Swalwell of California , Ms. Sherrill , Mr. Quigley , Mr. Luján , Mr. Cárdenas , Mr. Gallego , Ms. Kelly of Illinois , Mr. Garamendi , Mr. Olson , Mr. Young , Mr. Payne , Ms. Lofgren , and Mr. Veasey ) 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 1720I the following new section: 1720J. 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) The Secretary shall determine the rates of payment for a non-Department facility that furnishes in-patient psychiatric care pursuant to paragraph (1) in accordance with the rates paid by the United States under section 1703(i) of this title. (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 1720I the following new item: 1720J. Provision of in-patient psychiatric care. .