Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Testing, Researching, and Expanding Alternative Treatments Act” or the “TREAT Act” .
Testing, Researching, and Expanding Alternative Treatments Act
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand an existing pilot program, and to establish a new pilot program, related to complementary and integrative health services for veterans.
Sec. 2 Expansion of certain complementary and integrative health services
Plan required— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan to expand the pilot program under section 933 of the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act (title IX of Public Law 114–198; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note).
Assessment; elements— The plan under subsection (a) shall include provisions for assessing the implementation of the plan and the effectiveness of services and programs described in subsection (f) of that section 933, including—
the use and efficacy of complementary and integrative health services delivered through the pilot program for addressing mental health, pain management, and treatment of chronic illness;
the outreach conducted by the Secretary to inform veterans and community organizations of such services; and
the experiences of veterans who received such services.
Treatments described— Complementary and integrative health treatments described in this subjection shall consist of the following:
Yoga.
Meditation.
Acupuncture.
Chiropractic care.
Other treatments that show sufficient evidence of efficacy at treating mental or physical health conditions, as determined by the Secretary.
Implementation— Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall implement the plan under subsection (a).
Report— Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on activities carried out under this section, including—
the assessment under subsection (b);
implementation under subsection (d); and
such recommendations regarding the furnishing of complementary and integrative health treatments described in subsection (c) the Secretary determines appropriate.
Sec. 3 Pilot program to provide veterans access to complementary and integrative health services through animal therapy, agritherapy, and adaptive sports, recreation, and outdoor adventure
In general— 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 pilot program to provide complementary and integrative health services described in subsection (b) to eligible 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.
Treatments described— Complementary and integrative health treatments described in this subsection shall consist of the following:
Equine assisted therapy.
Other animal therapy.
Agritherapy.
Post-traumatic growth programming.
Adaptive sports, recreation, and outdoor adventure.
Eligible veterans— A veteran is eligible to participate in the pilot program under this section if the veteran—
is enrolled in the system of patient enrollment of the Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; and
during the two-year period preceding the initial participation of the veteran in the pilot program—
has received health care under the laws administered by the Secretary; or
has received rehabilitation and counseling services from a Vet Center.
Duration—
In general— The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under this section for a three-year period beginning on the commencement of the pilot program.
Extension— The Secretary may extend the duration of the pilot program under this section if the Secretary, based on the results of the interim report submitted under subsection (f)(1), determines that it is appropriate to do so.
Locations—
In general— The Secretary shall select not fewer than five facilities of the Department at which to carry out the pilot program under this section.
Selection criteria— 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).
Research on effectiveness of treatment—
In general— The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program in conjunction with academic researchers affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs, including through agreements under paragraph (2), in order for those researchers to study the effectiveness of the treatments described in subsection (b).
Agreements— Before commencing the pilot program, the Secretary shall seek to enter into agreements with academic researchers to ensure robust data collection and gathering procedures are in place under the pilot program in order to produce peer-reviewed journal articles.
Reports—
Interim report—
In general— Not later than one year after the commencement of the pilot 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 pilot program.
Elements— The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
The number of participants in the pilot program.
The type or types of therapy offered at each facility at which the pilot program is being carried out.
An assessment of whether participation by a veteran in the pilot program resulted in any changes in clinically relevant endpoints for the veteran with respect to the conditions specified in subsection (a).
An assessment of effect on quality of life and well-being of veterans participating in the pilot program, including the results of a satisfaction survey of the participants in the pilot program, disaggregated by treatment under subsection (b).
An assessment of whether the pilot program is effective in increasing the adherence of veterans to mental health treatment for the conditions described in subsection (a).
The determination of the Secretary with respect to extending the pilot program under subsection (d)(2).
Any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to expanding the pilot program.
Final report— Not later than 90 days after the termination of the pilot 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 pilot program.