text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Mental Health Treatment 
  First Act of 2013''.
  
  SEC. 2. MENTAL HEATH CARE AND REHABILITATION FOR VETERANS FOR SERVICE-
                RELATED POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, DEPRESSION, 
                ANXIETY DISORDER, OR RELATED SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
  
      (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
  States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the following 
  new section:
  ``Sec. 1712C. Mental health care and rehabilitation for service-related 
                post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety 
                disorder, or related substance use disorder
      ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a program of 
  mental health care and rehabilitation for veterans who--
              ``(1) have been discharged or released from service in the 
          active military, naval, or air service under conditions other 
          than dishonorable for a period of not more than two years;
              ``(2) are enrolled in the system of annual patient 
          enrollment established and operated by the Secretary under 
          section 1705 of this title and have been so enrolled since 
          before the date of the enactment of the Veterans Mental Health 
          Treatment First Act of 2013;
              ``(3) are diagnosed by a physician of the Department with 
          post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, 
          or substance use disorder related to post-traumatic stress 
          disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder that is service-
          related (as determined in accordance with subsection (b)); and
              ``(4) agree to the conditions of participation applicable 
          to such veterans set forth in subsection (c).
      ``(b) Treatment of Conditions as Service-Related.--(1) A condition 
  of a veteran described in subsection (a)(3) shall be treated as 
  service-related for purposes of this section if--
              ``(A) the condition has previously been adjudicated by the 
          Secretary to be service-connected; or
              ``(B) the condition is judged by the physician of the 
          Department making the diagnosis for the veteran as described in 
          subsection (a)(3) to be plausibly related to the service of the 
          veteran in the active military, naval, or air service.
      ``(2) The Secretary shall prescribe in regulations the standards to 
  be utilized by physicians of the Department in judging under paragraph 
  (1)(B) whether or not a condition of a veteran described in subsection 
  (a)(3) is plausibly related to the service of the veteran in the active 
  military, naval, or air service.
      ``(c) Conditions of Participation.--(1) As conditions for 
  participation in the program under this section, a veteran seeking 
  mental health care and rehabilitation under the program for a condition 
  described in subsection (a)(3) who has not yet filed a claim for 
  disability under this title for such condition shall agree as follows:
              ``(A) To comply substantially with the treatment regimen 
          and rehabilitation plan prescribed under subsection (d) for the 
          veteran.
              ``(B) Not to submit a claim for disability compensation 
          under chapter 11 of this title for post-traumatic stress 
          disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, or a related substance 
          use disorder until the earlier of--
                      ``(i) the end of the one-year period beginning on 
                  the date of the commencement of the program by the 
                  veteran; or
                      ``(ii) the conclusion of the treatment regimen and 
                  rehabilitation plan prescribed under subsection (d) for 
                  the veteran.
      ``(2) As conditions for participation in the program under this 
  section, a veteran seeking mental health care and rehabilitation under 
  the program for a condition described in subsection (a)(3) who has 
  filed a claim for disability under this title for such condition that 
  has not been adjudicated by the Secretary at the time of the diagnosis 
  of the veteran described in subsection (a)(3)--
              ``(A) shall agree to comply substantially with the 
          treatment regimen and rehabilitation plan prescribed under 
          subsection (d) for the veteran; and
              ``(B) may agree, at the election of the veteran, to the 
          suspension by the Secretary of adjudication of such claim until 
          completion by the veteran of the treatment regimen and 
          rehabilitation plan.
      ``(3) As conditions for participation in the program under this 
  section, a veteran seeking mental health care and rehabilitation under 
  the program for one or more conditions described in subsection (a)(3) 
  that have been determined by the Secretary to be service-connected 
  shall agree as follows:
              ``(A) To comply substantially with the treatment regimen 
          and rehabilitation plan prescribed under subsection (d) for the 
          veteran.
              ``(B) Not to submit a claim for an increase in disability 
          compensation under chapter 11 of this title for or based on 
          such condition or conditions until the earlier of--
                      ``(i) the end of the one-year period beginning on 
                  the date of the commencement of the program by the 
                  veteran; or
                      ``(ii) the completion of the treatment regimen and 
                  rehabilitation plan prescribed under subsection (d) for 
                  the veteran.
      ``(d) Treatment Regimen and Rehabilitation Plan.--(1) The Secretary 
  shall provide for each veteran who participates in the program under 
  this section a treatment regimen and rehabilitation plan for the post-
  traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, or related 
  substance use disorder of such veteran as described in subsection 
  (a)(3). The treatment regimen and rehabilitation plan shall be devised 
  by appropriate clinicians and other appropriate personnel of the 
  Department assigned for that purpose.
      ``(2) The treatment regimen and rehabilitation plan for a veteran 
  under this subsection shall include such mental health care and 
  rehabilitation as the clinicians and other personnel concerned consider 
  appropriate for the remediation of the condition or conditions of the 
  veteran covered by the plan.
      ``(3) The duration of each treatment regimen and rehabilitation 
  plan under this subsection shall be such period as the clinician 
  concerned considers appropriate.
      ``(e) Wellness Stipends.--(1) Subject to paragraph (4), each 
  veteran covered by subsection (c)(1) who participates in the program 
  under this section shall be paid a stipend as follows:
              ``(A) $2,000 payable upon commencement of the treatment 
          regimen and rehabilitation plan provided under subsection (d) 
          for such veteran.
              ``(B) $1,500 payable every 90 days thereafter upon 
          certification by the clinician treating such veteran under the 
          program that such veteran is in substantial compliance with 
          such treatment regimen and rehabilitation plan, except that the 
          total amount payable to such veteran under this subparagraph 
          may not exceed $6,000.
              ``(C) $3,000 payable at the earlier of--
                      ``(i) the date of the conclusion of such treatment 
                  regimen and rehabilitation plan; or
                      ``(ii) one year after the date of the commencement 
                  of such treatment regimen and rehabilitation plan by 
                  such veteran.
      ``(2) Subject to paragraph (4), each veteran covered by subsection 
  (c)(2) who participates in the program under this section shall be paid 
  a stipend as follows:
              ``(A) If such veteran agrees as provided in subparagraph 
          (B) of subsection (c)(2), the stipend payable under paragraph 
          (1).
              ``(B) If such veteran does not agree as provided in 
          subparagraph (B) of subsection (c)(2), the stipend payable 
          under paragraph (3).
      ``(3) Subject to paragraph (4), each veteran covered by subsection 
  (c)(3) who participates in the program under this section shall be paid 
  a stipend as follows:
              ``(A) $667 payable upon commencement of the treatment 
          regimen and rehabilitation plan provided under subsection (d) 
          for such veteran.
              ``(B) $500 payable every 90 days thereafter upon 
          certification by the clinician treating such veteran under the 
          program that such veteran is in substantial compliance with 
          such treatment regimen and rehabilitation plan, except that the 
          total amount payable to such veteran under this subparagraph 
          may not exceed $2,000.
              ``(C) $1,000 payable at the earlier of--
                      ``(i) the date of the conclusion of such treatment 
                  regimen and rehabilitation plan; or
                      ``(ii) one year after the date of the commencement 
                  of such treatment regimen and rehabilitation plan by 
                  such veteran.
      ``(4) In the event a veteran is determined by the Secretary to have 
  failed to comply with any condition agreed to by the veteran under 
  subsection (c), payment to the veteran of any stipend otherwise 
  authorized to be payable under this subsection shall cease.
      ``(f) Limitation on Participation.--(1) Except as provided in 
  paragraph (2), a veteran may participate only once in the program under 
  this section.
      ``(2) A veteran may participate more than once in the program under 
  this section if the Secretary determines that such additional 
  participation in the program will assist the veteran in achieving the 
  remediation of the condition or conditions addressed by participation 
  in the program.
      ``(3) The total amount of stipend payable under subsection (e) to a 
  veteran covered by paragraph (2) may not exceed $11,000.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
  chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
  relating to section 1712B the following new item:
  
  ``1712C. Mental health care and rehabilitation for service-related 
                              post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, 
                              anxiety disorder, or related substance use 
                              disorder.''.
target: Veterans Mental Health Treatment First Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a program of mental health care and rehabilitation for veterans who: (1) have been discharged or released from active-duty service under conditions other than dishonorable for no more than two years; (2) are enrolled in the VA system of annual patient enrollment and were so enrolled before the date of enactment of this Act; (3) are diagnosed by a VA physician with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, or substance use disorder that is service-related (as determined by the Secretary or a VA physician); and (4) agree to certain participation conditions, including not submitting a claim for veterans' disability compensation for any such condition until either one year after program commencement or the conclusion of the prescribed treatment regimen. Requires the Secretary to provide for each participant a treatment regimen and rehabilitation plan for the determined condition. Provides a stipend for participants, commencing upon program commencement, continuing through successful treatment and plan compliance, and ending either upon the conclusion of such treatment or one year after treatment and plan commencement. Allows a veteran to participate more than once in the program if the Secretary determines that the additional participation will assist the veteran in achieving the remediation of the condition.
feat_title: Veterans Mental Health Treatment First Act of 2013