US HB2283

Secretary of Veterans Affairs would establish a three-year pilot program providing grants to non-profit outpatient mental health facilities to deliver culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care to veterans

Eligible facilities must be non-profit organizations that have operated outpatient mental health facilities in the U.S. for at least three continuous years and have at least one clinician trained in culturally competent veterans mental health care

Grant amounts are capped at $1,500,000 per facility per fiscal year, with lower caps for facilities that received more than 50% of their operating budget from federal grants in the prior year

Grant recipients may not charge veterans fees for mental health care or refuse care based on insurance or reimbursement eligibility, though they may seek reimbursement from health plans or government programs

Authorizes $20,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-2027 and requires the Secretary to report to Congress within 180 days of program completion on outcomes including number of veterans served, demographics, and enrollment in VA health care