Sec. 20004. short-term agreements or contracts with telecommunications providers to expand telemental health services for isolated veterans during a public health emergency
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## Sec. 20004 short-term agreements or contracts with telecommunications providers to expand telemental health services for isolated veterans during a public health emergency ###
(a)In General Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into short-term agreements or contracts with telecommunications companies to provide temporary, complimentary or subsidized, fixed and mobile broadband services for the purposes of providing expanded mental health services to isolated veterans through telehealth or VA Video Connect during a public health emergency. ###
(b)Eligibility ####
(1)In general The Secretary may expand eligibility for services described in subsection
(a)from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include veterans already receiving care from the Department who may not be eligible for mental health services or other health care services delivered through telehealth or VA Video Connect. ####
(2)Priority For purposes of expanding eligibility under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize— #####
(A)veterans who are in unserved and underserved areas; #####
(B)veterans who reside in rural and highly rural areas, as defined in the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture; #####
(C)low-income veterans; and #####
(D)any other veterans that the Secretary considers to be at a higher risk for suicide and mental health concerns during isolation periods due to a public health emergency. ###
(c)Definitions In this section: ####
(1)Telehealth #####
(A)In general The term “telehealth” means the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration. #####
(B)Technologies For purposes of subparagraph (A), telecommunications technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications. ####
(2)VA video connect The term “VA Video Connect” means the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to connect veterans with their health care team from anywhere, using encryption to ensure a secure and private session.