Protecting Veteran Community Care Act
Protecting Veteran Community Care Act
Plain Language Summary
# Protecting Veteran Community Care Act - Plain Language Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help veterans access mental health and substance-abuse treatment through community providers when the VA's own facilities can't serve them quickly enough. Specifically, if a veteran qualifies for priority mental health treatment but the VA can't accommodate them in a timely manner, or if the VA can't meet its own access standards for specialty care, the VA would be required to pay for treatment at outside community facilities instead. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily affects veterans struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse problems who need residential treatment (meaning they stay at the facility while receiving care).
It also affects the VA's budget and operations, as the agency would need to cover the cost of community-provided care. **Key provisions:** The bill prevents the VA from denying veterans access to community care solely based on eligibility reasons, and it ensures that if the VA refers a veteran to an alternative program, that referral won't delay the veteran from getting timely mental health services—unless the veteran specifically requests the referral themselves. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Protecting Veteran Community Care Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish residential mental health or substance-use services to certain veterans through the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). Specifically, the VA must furnish such care if a veteran (1) meets VA criteria for priority admission to a VA Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program and the VA is unable to accommodate priority admission, or (2) has contacted the VA to request such mental health services and the VA is not able to furnish such services in a manner that complies with VA access standards for specialty care provided under the VCCP. The VA must ensure that a referral to an alternate Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program does not take precedence over timely access to mental health or substance-use services unless the referral is requested by the veteran. The VA is prohibited from determining a veteran is ineligible for VCCP care solely because VCCP providers are unable to comply with wait times or access standards. If multiple options for care or services are available, the VA must permit a veteran to elect the option the veteran prefers. Additionally, the bill provides minimum standards for residential mental health or substance-use services provided under the VCCP (e.g., treatment programs or facilities must be licensed and accredited for the specified services).
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.