§ 933. PILOT PROGRAM ON INTEGRATION OF COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH AND RELATED ISSUES FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF VETERANS.
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Pilot Program.— In general .— Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives the final report under section 931(e)(2), the Secretary shall commence a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using complementary and integrative health and wellness-based programs (as defined by the Secretary) to complement the provision of pain management and related health care services, including mental health care services, to veterans.
Matters addressed .— In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall assess the following: Means of improving coordination between Federal, State, local, and community providers of health care in the provision of pain management and related health care services to veterans. Means of enhancing outreach, and coordination of outreach, by and among providers of health care referred to in subparagraph
(A)on the pain management and related health care services available to veterans. Means of using complementary and integrative health and wellness-based programs of providers of health care referred to in subparagraph
(A)as complements to the provision by the Department of Veterans Affairs of pain management and related health care services to veterans. Whether complementary and integrative health and wellness-based programs described in subparagraph (C)— are effective in enhancing the quality of life and well-being of veterans; are effective in increasing the adherence of veterans to the primary pain management and related health care services provided such veterans by the Department; have an effect on the sense of well-being of veterans who receive primary pain management and related health care services from the Department; and are effective in encouraging veterans receiving health care from the Department to adopt a more healthy lifestyle. Duration .— The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a)(1) for a period of three years. Locations.— Facilities .— The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a)(1) at facilities of the Department providing pain management and related health care services, including mental health care services, to veterans. In selecting such facilities to carry out the pilot program, the Secretary shall select not fewer than 15 geographically diverse medical centers of the Department, of which not fewer than two shall be polytrauma rehabilitation centers of the Department. Medical centers with prescription rates of opioids that conflict with care standards .— In selecting the medical centers under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to medical centers of the Department at which there is a prescription rate of opioids that conflicts with or is otherwise inconsistent with the standards of appropriate and safe care. Provision of Services .— Under the pilot program under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall provide covered services to covered veterans by integrating complementary and integrative health services with other services provided by the Department at the medical centers selected under subsection (c). Covered Veterans .— For purposes of the pilot program under subsection (a)(1), a covered veteran is any veteran who— has a mental health condition diagnosed by a clinician of the Department; experiences chronic pain; has a chronic condition being treated by a clinician of the Department; or is not described in paragraph (1), (2), or
(3)and requests to participate in the pilot program or is referred by a clinician of the Department who is treating the veteran. Covered Services.— In general .— For purposes of the pilot program, covered services are services consisting of complementary and integrative health services as selected by the Secretary. Administration of services .— Covered services shall be administered under the pilot program as follows: Covered services shall be administered by professionals or other instructors with appropriate training and expertise in complementary and integrative health services who are employees of the Department or with whom the Department enters into an agreement to provide such services. Covered services shall be included as part of the Patient Aligned Care Teams initiative of the Office of Patient Care Services, Primary Care Program Office, in coordination with the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation. Covered services shall be made available to— covered veterans who have received conventional treatments from the Department for the conditions for which the covered veteran seeks complementary and integrative health services under the pilot program; and covered veterans who have not received conventional treatments from the Department for such conditions. Reports.— In general .— Not later than 30 months after the date on which the Secretary commences the pilot program under subsection (a)(1), 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 pilot program. Elements .— The report under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program under subsection (a)(1), including with respect to— the use and efficacy of the complementary and integrative health services established under the pilot program; the outreach conducted by the Secretary to inform veterans and community organizations about the pilot program; and an assessment of the benefit of the pilot program to covered veterans in mental health diagnoses, pain management, and treatment of chronic illness. Identification of any unresolved barriers that impede the ability of the Secretary to incorporate complementary and integrative health services with other health care services provided by the Department. Such recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the pilot program as the Secretary considers appropriate.