[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 156 (Tuesday, September 27, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 5688. Mr. OSSOFF (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. 
Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) and intended to be proposed to the 
bill H.R. 7900, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for 
military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1077. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR FIRST 
                   THREE MENTAL HEALTH CARE OUTPATIENT VISITS OF 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) Prohibition on Collection.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     1722B the following new section:

     ``Sec. 1722C. Copayments: prohibition on collection of 
       copayments for first three mental health care outpatient 
       visits of veterans

       ``(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b), 
     notwithstanding section 1710(g) of this title or any other 
     provision of law, the Secretary may not impose or collect a 
     copayment for the first three mental health care outpatient 
     visits of a veteran in a calendar year for which the veteran 
     would otherwise be required to pay a copayment under the laws 
     administered by the Secretary.
       ``(b) Copayment for Medications.--The prohibition under 
     subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to the imposition 
     or collection of copayments for medications pursuant to 
     section 1722A of this title.
       ``(c) Mental Health Care Outpatient Visit Defined.--In this 
     section, the term `mental health care outpatient visit' means 
     an outpatient visit with a qualified mental health 
     professional for the primary purpose of seeking mental health 
     care or treatment for substance abuse disorder.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such subchapter is amended by inserting after 
     the item related to section 1722B the following new item:

``1722C. Copayments: prohibition on collection of copayments for first 
              three mental health care outpatient visits of 
              veterans.''.
       (b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to mental health care outpatient 
     visits occurring on or after the date that is 180 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______