text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Veterans Health Care Access 
  Act of 2007''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds the following:
              (1) One out of every six veterans who have returned from 
          serving in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi 
          Freedom have diagnosable post-traumatic stress disorder.
              (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department 
          of Defense face a shortfall of trained mental health 
          professionals.
              (3) The demands placed on the Department of Veterans 
          Affairs health care system exceed the capacity of that system 
          to serve veterans.
              (4) Veterans who live in rural areas serviced by distant 
          Department of Veterans Affairs facilities have no option other 
          than excessive travel for diagnosis and long-term treatment.
              (5) The variety of mental ailments acquired during or as a 
          result of deployment in a war zone frequently require long-
          term, intensive, and highly-personalized care.
              (6) The system of the Veterans Health Administration of the 
          Department of Veterans Affairs in effect as of the date of the 
          enactment of this Act for providing long-term mental health 
          care creates unnecessary and unacceptable stress for veterans 
          and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
              (7) The long-term needs associated with mental health 
          conditions require a positive change in the way the Department 
          of Veterans Affairs provides mental health services.
  
  SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CERTAIN 
                VETERANS OF CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS.
  
      (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
  establish and carry out a pilot program to provide mental health 
  counseling to eligible veterans at facilities other than medical 
  facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
      (b) Eligible Veteran.--For purposes of this section, the term 
  ``eligible veteran'' means a veteran who--
              (1) served on active duty in support of a contingency 
          operation, as that term is defined in section 101(13) of title 
          10, United States Code;
              (2) is eligible to receive hospital care and medical 
          services under section 1710 of title 38, United States Code;
              (3) has been diagnosed with a mental health condition for 
          which a certified mental health provider has recommended the 
          veteran receive mental health counseling; and
              (4) resides at least 30 miles from a medical facility of 
          the Department of Veterans Affairs that employs a full-time 
          mental health professional.
      (c) Provision of Vouchers.--
              (1) Vouchers.--
                      (A) Six month supply.--Under the pilot program 
                  established under subsection (a), upon the request of 
                  an eligible veteran, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
                  shall issue to the eligible veteran a six-month supply 
                  of vouchers that may be used to provide for full 
                  payment for counseling services provided by any mental 
                  health provider on the list established under paragraph 
                  (2).
                      (B) Additional vouchers.--If a veteran receives a 
                  supply of vouchers under the preceding sentence and, 
                  not later than five months after receiving such 
                  vouchers requests an additional six-month supply of 
                  vouchers, the Secretary may issue to the veteran an 
                  additional six-month supplies of vouchers, as the 
                  Secretary determines is appropriate.
                      (C) Deadline.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
                  shall issue the vouchers under this paragraph not later 
                  than 30 days after the date of the date on which the 
                  veteran requests the vouchers.
              (2) List of service providers.--The Secretary shall compile 
          and maintain a list of mental health care providers, including 
          family counseling providers, who have entered into an agreement 
          with the Secretary to accept the vouchers issued under 
          paragraph (1) as payment in full for visits to the provider for 
          mental health counseling.
              (3) Compliance with department protocols.--Each mental 
          health care provider on the list maintained by the Secretary 
          under paragraph (2) shall comply with applicable protocols of 
          the Department of Veterans Affairs before incurring any 
          liability on behalf of the Department for the provision of 
          services as part of the pilot program.
      (d) Family Counseling.--If a certified mental health provider or 
  the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has recommended that an eligible 
  veteran and the veteran's family receive family counseling, that 
  veteran may use a voucher provided under subsection (c) as payment in 
  full for visits to a family counseling provider on the list maintained 
  under paragraph (2) of such subsection for such counseling.
      (e) Rate of Provider Reimbursement.--The Secretary of Veterans 
  Affairs shall provide for payment under the voucher of a mental health 
  provider at the reimbursement rate (if any) in effect under the TRICARE 
  program under chapter 55, of title 10, United States Code, for such 
  services (or similar services) of such a provider in the area or, in 
  the absence of such a reimbursement rate, at the payment rates for such 
  services (or similar services) in effect under part B of title XVIII of 
  the Social Security Act. In order to receive payment under a voucher, a 
  mental health provider shall submit to the Secretary the voucher 
  bearing the signature of the provider and the veteran who received 
  counseling from the provider in exchange for the voucher.
      (f) Veterans Integrated Service Networks.--The Secretary shall 
  carry out the pilot program under this section in Veterans Integrated 
  Service Networks 1, 4, 7, 12, 17, 20, and 23.
      (g) Termination; Extension.--
      (1) Termination.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out a 
  pilot program under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 
  five years after the date of enactment of this section.
      (2) Study; Extension.--Not later than four years after the date of 
  the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
  conduct a study on the effectiveness of the pilot program under this 
  section, in which the Secretary shall recommend whether the program 
  should be extended or expanded. Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the 
  Secretary determines the program should be extended or expanded, the 
  Secretary may extend or expand the existing program.
target: Rural Veterans Health Care Access Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to establish and implement a pilot program to provide mental health counseling services to eligible veterans at non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. Defines "eligible veteran" as one who: (1) served on active duty in support of a contingency operation; (2) is eligible to receive hospital care and medical services; (3) has been diagnosed with a mental health condition and recommended to receive mental health counseling; and (4) resides at least 30 miles from a VA medical facility that employs a full-time mental health professional. Requires the Secretary to issue to an eligible veteran a six-month supply of vouchers to be used to pay for counseling (including family counseling) services provided by the mental health provider.
  
  Requires the Secretary to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the pilot program.
feat_title: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide mental health services to certain veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.