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H.R. 1969 · House bill · 119th Congress
This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and modifies the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which awards grants to eligible entities to provide or coordinate suicide prevention services for veterans and members of the Armed Forces and their families.
Among other elements, the bill
adjusts the maximum amount for grants awarded under the program and provides for additional funding per individual who receives suicide prevention services provided or coordinated by a grantee;
requires the VA to provide briefings about the grant program at least once a year to certain personnel at each VA medical center located within 100 miles from the primary location of a grantee;
requires baseline mental health screenings for risk provided as suicide prevention services under the program to use a protocol selected by the VA; and
modifies eligibility requirements for entities seeking grants, including by authorizing applications from health care providers.
In subsequent applications, grantees who have previously received funds under the program must include evidence that previously awarded funds served a significant number of veterans.
The bill requires grantees to notify (1) eligible individuals that they may receive emergent suicide care furnished or paid for by the VA, and (2) the VA if eligible individuals request emergent suicide care.
This Act may be cited as the “No Wrong Door for Veterans Act”.
(a) Duration.— Section 201 of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (Public Law 116–171; 38 U.S.C. 1720F note) is amended, in subsection (j), by striking “the date that is three years after the date on which the first grant is awarded under this section” and inserting “September 30, 2026”.
(b) Emergent suicide care.— Such section is further amended—
(1) in subsection (m)—
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4);
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph (3):
“(3) Emergent suicide care.— In the case of an eligible individual who receives suicide prevention services provided or coordinated by an eligible entity in receipt of a grant under this section, the eligible entity shall notify—
(A) the eligible individual that the individual may be eligible for emergent suicide care under section 1720J of title 38, United States Code; and
(B) the Secretary, if an eligible individual notified under subparagraph (A) elects to receive such emergent suicide care.”; and
(C) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking “(1) or (2)” and inserting “(1), (2), or (3)”; and
(2) in subsection (n)—
(A) by inserting “(1) In general.—” before “When” and adjusting the margins accordingly; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(2) Time frame.— If the Secretary does not provide services under paragraph (1) to an eligible individual during the 72-hour period following a referral under subsection (m), such eligible individual shall be treated as eligible for emergent suicide care under section 1720J of title 38, United States Code.”.
(c) Reauthorization.— Such section is further amended, in subsection (p)—
(1) by striking “section a total of $174,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 through 2025.” and inserting “section—”; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
“(1) a total of $174,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 through 2025; and
(2) $52,500,000 for fiscal year 2026.”.
(d) Requirements for eligible entities.— Such section is further amended, in subsection (q)(3)—
(1) by inserting “an entity that has continuously provided mental health care or support services in the United States during the two-year period before the date on which the entity applies for a grant under this section and that is” after “means”;
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking “or foundation” and inserting “, foundation, or health care provider”; and
(3) in subparagraph (E), by striking “A” and inserting “a”.
(e) Technical correction to definitions.— Such section is further amended, in subsection (q)(5), by striking “Medical services” and inserting “The term “emergency treatment” means medical services”.
(f) Required use of certain screening protocol.— Such section is further amended, in subsection (q)(11)(A)(ii), by inserting after “risk” the following: “, which in the case of a grant made on or after the date of the enactment of the No Wrong Door for Veterans Act, shall be the Columbia Protocol (also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale)”.
Section 1701 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in paragraph (6)(F)(i), by inserting “(including adaptive prostheses and terminal devices for sports and other recreational activities)” after “artificial limbs”.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “November 30, 2031” and inserting “January 30, 2033”.