118th Congress Armed Forces and National Security
H.R. 3554: Protecting Veteran Community Care Act
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
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.
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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).
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Stephanie Bice R-OKOriginal
- Dan Crenshaw R-TXOriginal
- Eli Crane R-AZOriginal
- Donald Davis D-NCOriginal
- Brad Finstad R-MNOriginal
- Morgan Luttrell R-TXOriginal
- Matthew Rosendale R-MTOriginal
- Chip Roy R-TXOriginal
- Michelle Steel R-CAOriginal
- Jefferson Van Drew R-NJOriginal
- Derrick Van Orden R-WIOriginal
- Daniel Webster R-FLOriginal
- Kevin Hern R-OK
- Harriet Hageman R-WY
- Tracey Mann R-KS
- Jennifer Kiggans R-VA
- Anna Luna R-FL
- Michelle Fischbach R-MN
- Michael Lawler R-NY
- Nicholas Langworthy R-NY
- Anthony D'Esposito R-NY
Who scored on this bill
- 1Ryan Zinke SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced2 events+6
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
Other bills by Ryan Zinke
History
- Introduced in the House by Ryan Zinke.
Show the full action history (3 actions)
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.