H.R. 2283: RECOVER Act

The bill, known as the RECOVER Act, aims to support the mental health of veterans by establishing a pilot program operated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Program Establishment

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will create a three-year pilot program to grant funds to qualified mental health care providers for delivering culturally competent and evidence-based mental health care specifically to veterans.

Eligibility Criteria for Providers

To qualify for a grant, a mental health care provider must:

• Be a non-profit organization,
• Have operated at least one outpatient mental health facility in the U.S. for at least three consecutive years, and
• Submit an application that includes various details, such as the facilities involved and training plans for clinicians to provide culturally competent care.

Use of Grant Funds

Grants awarded under this pilot program must be used for the following purposes:

• To provide culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care to veterans.
• To operate or establish outpatient mental health facilities for this care.
• To encourage veterans to enroll in the patient enrollment system to receive services.

Restrictions on Care Fees

Organizations receiving grants cannot:

• Charge veterans any fees for mental health care, or
• Refuse care based on eligibility for reimbursement under specific health plans or government programs.

Reimbursement Provisions

While grant recipients cannot charge veterans, they can seek reimbursement from various programs for the care provided.

Grant Distribution and Selection

When selecting facilities to receive grants, the Secretary must ensure a balanced distribution among facilities in both urban and rural areas and may prioritize those serving high numbers of veterans or located near military installations.

Grant Amounts

The maximum annual grant amount for a facility will generally be $1,500,000. However, if more than 50% of a facility's budget comes from federal grants, it cannot exceed 50% of that operating budget for the prior fiscal year.

Application for Multiple Grants

Providers can apply for and obtain grants for more than one facility, even if some facilities have received previous grants.

Training Requirements

The Secretary will set specific training requirements for clinicians to ensure they can provide the necessary culturally competent mental health care.

Regulations and Accountability

The Secretary will create regulations to enforce compliance, including ensuring each grant recipient demonstrates accountability, clinical outcomes, and effective use of funds through required data reporting.

Reporting Requirements

After the pilot program concludes, the Secretary must report to Congress detailing:

• The number of veterans who received care,
• The demographics of those veterans,
• The types of care provided,
• The outcomes of the program, and
• Challenges faced in delivering care.

Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes $20 million each fiscal year from 2025 to 2027 to support this pilot program.

Relevant Companies

None found