(a) Coordination by Secretary
Subsection (b) of 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 by striking the second sentence.
(b) Use of grant funds
Subsection (c) of such section is amended—
in the subsection heading, by inserting ; Use of Grant Funds after Grants ; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
(3) Renewal of grant amounts
(A) In general
In determining whether to renew a grant awarded under this section to an eligible entity, the Secretary shall consider, among such other factors as the Secretary may consider appropriate—
the compliance by the eligible entity in administering pre- and post-intervention assessments required under subsection (e)(6); and
any demonstrated improvements in participant outcomes.
(B) Additional amounts
Based on a consideration of the factors described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary may award amounts, not to exceed $250,000 per grantee per fiscal year, to a grantee in addition to the maximum amount under paragraph (2)(A) based on a performance-based metric established by the Secretary.
(c) Priority for new recipients
Subsection (d) of such section is amended—
in the subsection heading, by striking and Preference and inserting , Preference, and Priority ;
in paragraph (1)(A)—
in clause (iv), by striking the semi-colon at the end and inserting ; and ;
by striking clause (v); and
by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (v); and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(3) Priority for new recipients
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall prioritize grants for eligible entities that have satisfied the requirements provided under subsection (f) and are located in States in which a grant has not been awarded under this section.
(d) Requirements for receipt of grants
Subsection (e) of such section is amended—
in paragraph (3)—
by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):
coordinate with the Secretary to develop a plan for communication between the entity and local mental health providers of the Department regarding whether veterans receiving assistance under this section from the entity are attending appointments to ensure continuity of care;
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(6) Assessments
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall conduct a pre- and post-intervention assessment with respect to each eligible individual who receives suicide prevention services pursuant to such grant across all relevant metrics, as determined by the Secretary.
(7) Metrics and outcomes
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall collect and submit to the Secretary such metrics and outcome data as the Secretary may require, including—
throughput measures, including the number of veterans screened, referred, connected to care, and retained in services under the grant program;
reductions in severity scale measurements, including reductions in suicidality identified through applicable inventories or assessments; and
such other quantifiable metrics as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(e) Training and technical assistance
Subsection (g) of such section is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting , or interested in receiving such grants, after this section ; and
in subparagraph (A), by inserting , including training on how to properly use the Columbia Protocol (also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C–SSRS)) and other screening tools selected by the Secretary after management ; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
(3) Training for department employees
The Secretary shall provide training to employees of the Department as the Secretary considers appropriate on the grant program under this section.
(f) Briefing for local VAMCS
Subsection (h) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(5) Briefing for local VAMCS
Not less frequently than once per year, unless the Secretary determines that such frequency is not advisable, the Secretary shall provide, to the appropriate personnel of each medical center of the Department identified on the grantee’s application under this section, a briefing about the grant program under this section in order to improve coordination between such recipient and personnel.
(g) Duration
Subsection (j) of such section is amended by striking September 30, 2026 and inserting September 30, 2029 .
(h) Reports
Subsection (k)(2) is amended—
in the paragraph heading, by striking Final report and inserting Annual reports ; and
in subparagraph (B)—
by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as (v) and (vi), respectively; and
by adding the following new clauses (iii) and (iv):
A description of the Secretary’s compliance with the requirement to train employees of the Department under subsection (g)(3).
An optional description and inclusion of subjective or narrative stories of community or individual impact to allow grant recipients to share meaningful accomplishments.
(i) Referral for care
Subsection (m) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(4) Required response or action
If the Secretary receives a referral under paragraph (1) for additional care, the Secretary shall review such referral and contact the veteran not later than 72-hours following the referral.
If the Secretary receives a referral under paragraph (2) for emergent suicide care, the Secretary shall review such referral and contact the veteran not later than 24 hours following the referral by such entity under subsection (m)(1).
(j) Reauthorization
Subsection (p) of such section is amended—
by striking section a total and inserting
a total
by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
a total of $200,000,000 for fiscal years 2027 through 2029.
(k) Technical correction to definitions
Subsection (q)(5) of such section is amended, in the first sentence—
by striking Medical services and inserting The term emergency treatment means medical services ; and
by striking was rendered and inserting rendered .
(l) Identification of demand for other services and support
Subsection (e) of such section, as amended, is further amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as (6) and (7), respectively; and
by adding after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:
(5) Demand for other services and support
An entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary information concerning—
the number of individuals seeking services from the entity who are not eligible individuals and the most common reason such individuals are not eligible individuals;
a description of the types of services that eligible individuals or individuals described in subparagraph (A) require based on any screening conducted by the entity; and
any actions taken by the entity to provide the services described in subparagraph (B) or to refer the individual or eligible individual to another entity for the receipt of such services.
(m) Suicide prevention services
(1) Required use of certain screening protocol
Subsection (q)(11)(A)(ii) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: In the case of a recipient of a grant awarded under this section on or after the date of the enactment of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act , such screening shall be Columbia Protocol (also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C–SSRS)) or the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ9), or a successor screening tool selected by the Secretary. ;
(2) Transportation
Subsection (q)(11)(A) of such section is amended—
by redesignating clause (xi) as clause (xii); and
by inserting after clause (x) the following new clause:
Transportation and rideshare services for eligible individuals to use for appointments.
(n) Eligible individuals
Subsection (q)(4)(C) of such section is amended by striking clauses (i) through (iv) and inserting clauses (i) through (vi) .
(o) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on—
the effective date of award following the date the Secretary publishes a notice of funding opportunity for the program required by section 201(a) of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 ( Public Law 116–171 ; ( 38 U.S.C. 1720F )), if the Secretary determines such amendments do not require rulemaking; or
the effective date of award following the date the Secretary publishes a notice of funding opportunity following the effective date of subsequent rulemaking, if the Secretary determines such amendments do require rulemaking.