HR2283-119

What This Bill Does

The RECOVER Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to run a 3-year pilot grant program for nonprofit outpatient mental health providers. Eligible providers must operate at least one outpatient mental health facility in the United States for three continuous years, identify the facilities that would receive grant support, and have at least one clinician at each grant facility trained to provide culturally competent veteran mental health care under VA requirements. Grant funds may be used to provide culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care, operate or establish outpatient mental health facilities, and encourage eligible veterans to enroll in the VA patient enrollment system and receive VA medical services. Recipients may not charge veterans fees or refuse care because a veteran is not eligible for reimbursement under a health plan or government program. VA must distribute grants evenly between rural and urban facilities, may prioritize medically underserved areas, large veteran populations, proximity to military installations, and high veteran suicide risk, and must set accountability, outcome, and data-reporting rules. The bill authorizes $20 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2027 and requires a report after the pilot.

Who Benefits and How

Veterans needing mental health care benefit because nonprofit grantees must provide evidence-based, culturally competent care without charging veterans fees. Veterans in medically underserved areas, communities near military installations, and high-suicide-risk areas benefit from VA priority factors. Nonprofit outpatient mental health providers receive grant funding that can support existing facilities, new facilities, clinicians, and veteran outreach. Rural and urban outpatient facilities both benefit because VA must distribute grants evenly between those settings. Clinicians receive a VA-defined training pathway for culturally competent veteran mental health care.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must design the pilot, review applications, distribute grants across rural and urban facilities, set training requirements, issue regulations, and report to Congress. Nonprofit grantees must meet eligibility requirements, avoid charging veteran fees, accept veterans regardless of reimbursement eligibility, collect data, show accountability, and demonstrate clinical outcomes. Facilities receiving at least half their budget from federal grants face a stricter cap tied to 50 percent of operating budget or $1.5 million. Health plans, VA Community Care, and other government programs may receive reimbursement claims from grantees. Congressional committees must review post-pilot data on veterans served, demographics, care types, duration, outcomes, enrollment, and obstacles.

Key Provisions

• Establishes a 3-year VA pilot grant program for eligible nonprofit outpatient mental health providers.
• Authorizes culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care and outpatient facility operations or establishment.
• Prohibits grantees from charging veterans fees or refusing care based on reimbursement eligibility.
• Requires clinician training in culturally competent veteran mental health care.
• Directs VA to distribute grants evenly between rural and urban facilities and consider underserved or high-risk areas.
• Caps awards at $1.5 million per facility per year, with a stricter cap for heavily federally funded facilities.
• Requires accountability, outcomes, data collection, regulations, and a congressional report.
• Authorizes $20 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2027.