1.Pilot program on mobile
provision of care and services for veterans in rural areas by the Department of
Veterans Affairs
(a)
(1)The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasability and
advisability of providing care and services described in subsection (d) to
veterans residing in rural areas through the mobile system described in
subsection (e).
(2)The pilot program shall be known as the
Mobile Support for Rural Veterans Program
(in this section
referred to as the pilot program
).
(b)
(1)The Secretary
shall carry out the pilot program through the Director of the Office of Rural
Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2)The
pilot program shall be developed and carried out in consultation with the
following:
(A)The Regional
Director of Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 23, in which mobile
Department of Veterans Affairs clinics are currently in operation.
(B)The Director of
the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Department of Health and Human
Services.
(C)The agencies or
offices for rural health in the States selected for participation in the pilot
program.
(D)The country or
local agencies or offices for rural health in the areas designated for the
pilot program.
(c)
(1)The pilot program shall be carried out in not less than
three Veterans Integrated Services Networks selected by the Secretary for
purposes of the pilot program.
(2)The pilot program shall be carried out in one or
more rural areas in each Veterans Integrated Services Network selected under
paragraph (1) that are designated by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot
program in consultation with the Regional Director of such Veterans Integrated
Services Network. In designating such areas, the Secretary shall take into
account—
(A)the number of
veterans residing in or near an area; and
(B)the difficulty of
access of such veterans to the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs medical
facility, whether by reason of ravel or other factors.
(d)Care and
services providedThe care and services provided under the pilot
program shall include, but not be limited to, care and services as
follows:
(1)Counseling and
education for veterans on accessing such health care, educational, pension, or
other benefits for which veterans may eligible under the laws administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(2)Assistance for
veterans in completing paperwork necessary for enrollment in the health care
system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(3)The prescription
for and delivery to veterans of medications for which veterans are entitled
under such laws, including, in particular, medications for veterans suffering
from acute or chronic injuries or illnesses.
(4)Mental health
screenings for veterans to identify potential mental health disorders such as
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or a substance abuse, including, in
particular, for veterans recently discharged or released after service overseas
in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.
(5)Job placement
assistance and information on employment or training opportunities for
veterans.
(6)Substance abuse
counseling for veterans.
(7)Bereavement
counseling for families of members of the Armed Forces who were killed in
military service.
(8)Such other care,
services, and assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of
the pilot program.
(e)
(1)Care and services under the pilot program shall be
provided through a mobile system established for purposes of the pilot program
that meets the requirements of this subsection.
(2)In
providing care and services under the pilot program, the mobile system shall
transport to the areas designated for the pilot program personnel as
follows:
(A)Department of
Veterans Affairs physicians, nurses, and mental health specialists.
(B)Department of
Veterans Affairs casework officers.
(C)Department of
Veterans Affairs benefits counselors.
(D)Such other
personnel of the Department as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes
of the pilot program.
(3)In providing care and services under the pilot program,
the mobile system shall transport also such equipment, forms, information, and
other materiel as are necessary for the provision of care and services under
the pilot program.
(4)
(A)The
mobile system shall visit each area designated for the pilot program at least
once each 45 days.
(B)The
mobile system shall be present in an area designated for the pilot program
during each visit under subparagraph (A) for a period of not less than 48
hours
(f)Coordination
requirements
(1)Identification
of veterans not enrolled in VA health care systemIn carrying out
the pilot program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of
Defense shall jointly undertake actions to identify veterans residing in areas
designated for the pilot program who are not enrolled in, or otherwise being
cared for by, the health care system of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
(2)Coordination
with county and local veterans service officesIn carrying out
the pilot program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate with
county and local veterans service officers in areas designated for the pilot
program to—
(A)establish contact
with veterans in such areas who are not enrolled in the health care system of
the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(B)inform veterans
in such areas, in advance, of the date and location of visits of the mobile
system under subsection (e) to such areas; and
(C)identify
possibilities to complete necessary paperwork or preparation for veterans to
maximize the effectiveness of the pilot program.
(3)Utilization of
community-based outpatient clinicsThe pilot program shall, to
the extent practicable, utilize appropriate personnel and resources of
community-based outpatient clinics of the Department of Veterans Affairs in
areas designated for the pilot program, including the inclusion of such
personnel in visits of the mobile system under subsection (e).
(g)Not
later than 16 months after the commencement of the pilot program, and every 180
days thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the pilot
program. The report shall include the following:
(1)A description and
assessment of the implementation of the pilot program.
(2)An assessment,
current as of the date of the report, of the effectiveness of the pilot program
in providing care and services to veterans residing in rural areas, including a
comparative assessment of effectiveness for each of the various areas
designated for the pilot program.
(3)An assessment,
current as of the date of the report, of the effectiveness of the coordination
described in subsection (f) in contributing toward the effectiveness of the
pilot program.
(4)Such
recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate for modifications of the
pilot program in order to better provide care and services to veterans residing
in rural areas.
(h)Authorization
of appropriationsThere is hereby authorized to be appropriated
for the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out this section amounts as
follows:
(1)$10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2008.
(2)$10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2009.
(3)$10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2010.