[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1290 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1290

   To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot 
program under which the Department of Veterans Affairs refers veterans 
  experiencing mental health crises to approved non-Department mental 
             health care providers, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 13, 2025

  Mr. Buchanan (for himself and Mr. Murphy) 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 under which the Department of Veterans Affairs refers veterans 
  experiencing mental health crises to approved non-Department mental 
             health care providers, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Veterans Mental Health Crisis 
Referral Enhancement Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON MENTAL HEALTH 
              REFERRALS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--Beginning not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out a three-year pilot program under which Vet Centers and 
medical facilities of the Department provide veterans experiencing 
mental health crises with referrals to non-Department mental health 
care providers approved by the Secretary.
    (b) Locations.--The Secretary shall select at least three 
geographic locations at which to carry out the pilot program required 
under subsection (a).
    (c) Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) develop and maintain a referral system to connect 
        veterans experiencing mental health crises with non-Department 
        mental health care providers within one week;
            (2) develop criteria for the approval of non-Department 
        mental health care providers for purposes of referrals under 
        the program;
            (3) hire any additional employees required to facilitate 
        referrals under the system; and
            (4) provide appropriate training to employees of Vet 
        Centers and medical facilities of the Department on the 
        referral system.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) Annual reports.--Not later than six months after the 
        last day of each year during which the Secretary carries out 
        the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
        submit to Congress a report on the implementation and outcomes 
        of the pilot program. Each such report shall include the 
        following for the year covered by the report:
                    (A) The number of veterans referred to non-
                Department mental health care providers under the pilot 
                program.
                    (B) The average wait time for a veteran to receive 
                mental health care after receiving a referral under the 
                pilot program.
                    (C) An evaluation of veteran satisfaction with the 
                mental health care received through the referral 
                system.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        conclusion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a final report containing an evaluation of the 
        effectiveness of the program and the recommendations of the 
        Secretary with respect to expanding or modifying the referral 
        system developed under the program.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the pilot program required under subsection 
(a) $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027.
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