Access to mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs for veterans with spinal cord injury or disorder

(a) Plan (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan to ensure access to mental health residential treatment programs for veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder. (2) Elements The plan required under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a staffing plan, which shall include a plan for how the Department will— (i) incorporate staff from other facilities to support the pilot program required under subsection (b); and (ii) ensure adequate staffing to support the needs of veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder; (B) an assessment of medical equipment needs; and (C) an assessment of the best location to deliver treatment and health care under mental health residential treatment programs, including through the use of spinal cord injury or disorder centers, spinal cord injury or disorder spokes, and community care providers. (b) Pilot program (1) In general Commencing not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall carry out a pilot program to provide improved access to mental health residential treatment programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder at not fewer than three medical facilities of the Department. (2) Selection of locations In selecting sites for the pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize sites in the following areas: (A) Areas with geographic diversity, including areas that serve veterans residing in rural or highly rural areas. (B) Areas with a significant number of veterans with spinal cord injury or disorder. (c) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on— (1) the implementation of the plan required under subsection (a); (2) the initial results from the pilot program under subsection (b), including the number of unique veterans who participated in the pilot program, the cost of the pilot program, and an assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot program in increasing access to, and improving outcomes for, participants in the pilot program; (3) plans, if any, to expand or extend the pilot program to address demand for the highly specialized treatment provided under the mental health residential treatment programs of the Department for veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder; and (4) Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.