Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2441
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]
Introduced: 2021-04-12
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government studies and investigations

Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Mental health

Rural conditions and development

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2021-06-30
text: Became Public Law No: 117-21.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-04-12
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during FY2022, to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans. The RANGE Program serves veterans in rural areas who are experiencing mental illness.</p> <p>The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report on whether the VA has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy.<br> </p>

action_date: 2021-05-18
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><strong>Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during FY2022, to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans. The RANGE Program serves veterans in rural areas who are experiencing mental illness.</p> <p>The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report on whether the VA has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy.<br> </p>

action_date: 2021-06-24
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p><strong>Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during FY2022, to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans. The RANGE Program serves veterans in rural areas who are experiencing mental illness.</p> <p>The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report on whether the VA has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy.<br> </p>

action_date: 2021-06-30
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><strong>Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during FY2022, to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans. The RANGE Program serves veterans in rural areas who are experiencing mental illness.</p> <p>The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report on whether the VA has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy.<br> </p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2441 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 12, 2021 Mrs. Axne (for herself, Mrs. Hinson , Mr. Ryan , Mrs. Miller-Meeks , Mr. Feenstra , and Mr. Case ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study to assess certain mental health care resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs available to veterans who live in rural areas.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021 . 2. Expansion of Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Expansion The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and maintain three new centers of the RANGE Program. (b) Locations The centers established under subsection (a) shall be located in areas determined by the Secretary based on— (1) the need for additional mental health care for rural veterans in such areas; and (2) interest expressed by personnel at facilities of the Department in such areas. (c) Timeline The Secretary shall establish the centers under subsection (a) during fiscal year 2022. (d) Funding There is authorized to be appropriated $1,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024 to carry out this section. 3. GAO study of mental health care furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to rural veterans (a) Study required The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to assess whether the Department of Veterans Affairs has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need covered mental health care. Such study shall include assessments of— (1) whether the mental health care furnished by the Secretary (through resources including the RANGE Program, Enhanced RANGE Program, mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs, inpatient mental health services, and PRR centers) is sufficient to meet the covered mental health care needs of rural veterans; (2) how best to expand and to appropriately locate resources described in paragraph (1); (3) whether to require the establishment of a PRR center at a medical facility of the Department that serves 1,000 or more veterans on the National Psychosis Registry; (4) the demand by rural veterans for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); (5) the average wait time for a rural veteran for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); and (6) how many rural veterans died by suicide or overdose— (A) while on a wait list for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); and (B) during the term of the study. (b) Report required Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study under this section. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term covered mental health care means mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy. (2) The term PRR center means a psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery center of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (3) The term RANGE Program means the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (4) The term rural veteran means a veteran who lives in a rural or highly rural area (including such an area in a Tribal or insular area), as determined through the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture.

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2441 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study to assess certain mental health care resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs available to veterans who live in rural areas.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021 . 2. Expansion of Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Expansion The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and maintain three new centers of the RANGE Program. (b) Locations The centers established under subsection (a) shall be located in areas determined by the Secretary based on— (1) the need for additional mental health care for rural veterans in such areas; and (2) interest expressed by personnel at facilities of the Department in such areas. (c) Timeline The Secretary shall establish the centers under subsection (a) during fiscal year 2022. (d) Funding There is authorized to be appropriated $1,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024 to carry out this section. 3. GAO study of mental health care furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to rural veterans (a) Study required The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to assess whether the Department of Veterans Affairs has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need covered mental health care. Such study shall include assessments of— (1) whether the mental health care furnished by the Secretary (through resources including the RANGE Program, Enhanced RANGE Program, mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs, inpatient mental health services, and PRR centers) is sufficient to meet the covered mental health care needs of rural veterans; (2) how best to expand and to appropriately locate resources described in paragraph (1); (3) whether to require the establishment of a PRR center at a medical facility of the Department that serves 1,000 or more veterans on the National Psychosis Registry; (4) the demand by rural veterans for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); (5) the average wait time for a rural veteran for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); and (6) how many rural veterans died by suicide or overdose— (A) while on a wait list for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); and (B) during the term of the study. (b) Report required Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study under this section. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term covered mental health care means mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy. (2) The term PRR center means a psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery center of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (3) The term RANGE Program means the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (4) The term rural veteran means a veteran who lives in a rural or highly rural area (including such an area in a Tribal or insular area), as determined through the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture.

Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2441 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 19, 2021 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study to assess certain mental health care resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs available to veterans who live in rural areas.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021 . 2. Expansion of Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Expansion The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and maintain three new centers of the RANGE Program. (b) Locations The centers established under subsection (a) shall be located in areas determined by the Secretary based on— (1) the need for additional mental health care for rural veterans in such areas; and (2) interest expressed by personnel at facilities of the Department in such areas. (c) Timeline The Secretary shall establish the centers under subsection (a) during fiscal year 2022. (d) Funding There is authorized to be appropriated $1,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024 to carry out this section. 3. GAO study of mental health care furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to rural veterans (a) Study required The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to assess whether the Department of Veterans Affairs has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need covered mental health care. Such study shall include assessments of— (1) whether the mental health care furnished by the Secretary (through resources including the RANGE Program, Enhanced RANGE Program, mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs, inpatient mental health services, and PRR centers) is sufficient to meet the covered mental health care needs of rural veterans; (2) how best to expand and to appropriately locate resources described in paragraph (1); (3) whether to require the establishment of a PRR center at a medical facility of the Department that serves 1,000 or more veterans on the National Psychosis Registry; (4) the demand by rural veterans for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); (5) the average wait time for a rural veteran for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); and (6) how many rural veterans died by suicide or overdose— (A) while on a wait list for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); and (B) during the term of the study. (b) Report required Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study under this section. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term covered mental health care means mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy. (2) The term PRR center means a psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery center of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (3) The term RANGE Program means the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (4) The term rural veteran means a veteran who lives in a rural or highly rural area (including such an area in a Tribal or insular area), as determined through the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture.

Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk

tv_txt: I One Hundred Seventeenth Congress of the United States of America At the First Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Sunday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-one H. R. 2441 AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study to assess certain mental health care resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs available to veterans who live in rural areas.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021 . 2. Expansion of Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Expansion The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and maintain three new centers of the RANGE Program. (b) Locations The centers established under subsection (a) shall be located in areas determined by the Secretary based on— (1) the need for additional mental health care for rural veterans in such areas; and (2) interest expressed by personnel at facilities of the Department in such areas. (c) Timeline The Secretary shall establish the centers under subsection (a) during fiscal year 2022. (d) Funding There is authorized to be appropriated $1,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024 to carry out this section. 3. GAO study of mental health care furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to rural veterans (a) Study required The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to assess whether the Department of Veterans Affairs has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need covered mental health care. Such study shall include assessments of— (1) whether the mental health care furnished by the Secretary (through resources including the RANGE Program, Enhanced RANGE Program, mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs, inpatient mental health services, and PRR centers) is sufficient to meet the covered mental health care needs of rural veterans; (2) how best to expand and to appropriately locate resources described in paragraph (1); (3) whether to require the establishment of a PRR center at a medical facility of the Department that serves 1,000 or more veterans on the National Psychosis Registry; (4) the demand by rural veterans for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); (5) the average wait time for a rural veteran for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); and (6) how many rural veterans died by suicide or overdose— (A) while on a wait list for mental health resources specified in paragraph (1); and (B) during the term of the study. (b) Report required Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study under this section. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term covered mental health care means mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy. (2) The term PRR center means a psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery center of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (3) The term RANGE Program means the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (4) The term rural veteran means a veteran who lives in a rural or highly rural area (including such an area in a Tribal or insular area), as determined through the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.