[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9449 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9449

  To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a list of 
 covered providers that complete annual training on the prevention of 
  suicide among veterans and to make such list available to veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 3, 2024

  Mr. Huizenga (for himself and Mr. Correa) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a list of 
 covered providers that complete annual training on the prevention of 
  suicide among veterans and to make such list available to veterans.

    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 Suicide Prevention and 
Care Enhancement Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PREFERRED PROVIDER LIST FOR VETERANS COMMUNITY 
              CARE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make 
available to covered providers annual, evidence-based training on the 
prevention of suicide among veterans.
    (b) Preferred Provider List.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) establish and maintain a list (to be known as 
                the ``preferred provider list'') of each covered 
                provider that completes the training under subsection 
                (a); and
                    (B) make such list publicly available to veterans 
                eligible for health care under the laws administered by 
                the Secretary.
            (2) Non-department training.--The Secretary shall include 
        on the preferred provider list any covered provider that the 
        Secretary determines has completed training that--
                    (A) is substantially similar to the training 
                required by such subsection; and
                    (B) meets the applicable competency standard for 
                military health care professionals.
            (3) Opt-out.--A covered provider desiring to be removed 
        from the preferred provider list may submit to the Secretary a 
        request in such form, at such time, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
            (4) Annual review.--The Secretary shall, on an annual 
        basis, review the preferred provider list to ensure each 
        covered provider included on such list has completed such 
        training.
    (c) Covered Provider Defined.--In this section, the term ``covered 
provider'' means--
            (1) a health care provider specified in subsection (c) of 
        section 1703 of title 38, United States Code; and
            (2) an eligible entity or medical provider that has entered 
        into a Veterans Care Agreement under section 1703A of such 
        title.

SEC. 3. REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the day of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
the following:
            (1) The number of providers who completed the VA-offered 
        suicide prevention training prior to the implementation of the 
        Preferred Provider List outline in Sec. 2(b).
            (2) The number of Community Care Network providers who 
        completed a different suicide prevention training not offered 
        by the VA prior to the implementation of the Preferred Provider 
        List.
            (3) The number of providers currently on the Preferred 
        Provider List, bifurcated by those who utilized the VA-offered 
        suicide prevention training and those providers who received 
        the waiver outlined in Sec. 2(b)(2).
            (4) The likelihood of veterans utilizing providers on the 
        Preferred Provider List rather than a provider not found on the 
        Preferred Provider List.
            (5) Any patterns apparent to the Secretary based on the 
        review of the implementation of the Preferred Provider List.
            (6) Any recommendations for further action that would 
        improve and enhance the Preferred Provider List with the 
        objective of increasing access to care for veterans.
    (b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
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