Sec. 206. Program to provide veterans access to complementary and integrative health services through animal therapy, agri-therapy, and outdoor sports therapy
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Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence the conduct of a program to provide complementary and integrative health services described in subsection
(b)to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs or through the use of non-Department entities for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, or other conditions as determined by the Secretary. Complementary and integrative health treatments described in this subsection shall consist of the following: Equine therapy. Other animal therapy. Agri-therapy. Outdoor sports therapy. A veteran is eligible to participate in the program under this section if the veteran— is enrolled in the system of patient enrollment of the Department established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; and has received health care under the laws administered by the Secretary during the two-year period preceding the initial participation of the veteran in the program. The Secretary shall carry out the program under this section for a two-year period beginning on the commencement of the program. The Secretary may extend the duration of the program under this section if the Secretary, based on the results of the interim report submitted under subsection (e)(1), determines that it is appropriate to do so. The Secretary shall select not fewer than five facilities of the Department at which to carry out the program under this section. In selecting facilities under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that— the locations are in geographically diverse areas; and not fewer than three facilities serve veterans in rural or highly rural areas (as determined through the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture). Not later than one year after the commencement of the program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the program. The report required by subparagraph
(A)shall include the following: The number of participants in the program. The types of therapy offered at each facility at which the program is being carried out. An assessment of whether participation by a veteran in the program resulted in any changes in clinically relevant endpoints for the veteran with respect to the conditions specified in subsection (a). An assessment of the quality of life of veterans participating in the program, including the results of a satisfaction survey of the participants in the program, disaggregated by treatment under subsection (b). The determination of the Secretary with respect to extending the program under subsection (c)(2). Any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to expanding the program. Not later than 90 days after the termination of the program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a final report on the program.