S. 4137: Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery Act

This bill, known as the Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery Act (RECOVER Act), aims to establish a pilot program managed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer grants to outpatient mental health facilities. The focus of the grants is to facilitate culturally competent and evidence-based mental health care specifically for veterans.

Key Provisions of the Bill

Establishment of the Pilot Program

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to implement the pilot program, which will distribute grants to eligible mental health care providers for the provision of mental health care for veterans. This program is intended to run for three years.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the grants, mental health care providers must meet the following criteria:

• Be a non-profit organization.
• Have operated at least one outpatient mental health facility in the U.S. for a minimum of three continuous years.
• Submit an application that includes:
  • Identification of the facilities that will serve veterans.
  • A plan for culturally competent care, including training for clinicians.
  • Information on past federal funding received.

Use of Grant Funds

The funds granted through the pilot program can be used for:

• Providing culturally competent and evidence-based mental health care for veterans.
• Operating or establishing outpatient mental health facilities.
• Encouraging veteran enrollment in the VA patient system to access medical services.

However, grant recipients can’t charge veterans for care provided under this program and must deliver services regardless of the veterans' reimbursement eligibility.

Selection of Facilities

The selection process for grant recipients will ensure that funding is spread evenly between urban and rural facilities and may consider factors like:

• The historical number of veterans served by the facility.
• Priority for facilities in medically underserved areas or near military installations.
• The presence of high-risk veterans in certain regions.

Grant Amounts

The maximum grant amount is set at $1,500,000 per fiscal year for each facility, though facilities that significantly depend on federal funding might receive up to 50% of their operating budget or $1,500,000, whichever is lower. Providers can apply for grants for multiple facilities or for facilities that have previously received grants.

Training and Accountability

Grant recipients must adhere to accountability measures, demonstrate clinical outcomes, and justify the effective use of the grant funds through data collection. The Secretary will also set specific training requirements for clinicians to ensure they can provide culturally competent care.

Reporting Requirements

After the program completes, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress detailing:

• The number of veterans served.
• Demographics of the veterans.
• The types of mental health services provided.
• Outcomes of the program.
• Any barriers experienced by grant recipients in delivering care.

Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes appropriations of $20,000,000 annually for the fiscal years 2025 through 2027 to support the pilot program.

Relevant Companies

• None found