Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Whole Health for Veterans Act”.
Whole Health for Veterans Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to limit the extent to which copayments may be required for veterans receiving Whole Health well-being services, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Copayments for Whole Health well-being services
Sense of Congress— Congress encourages further development of the Whole Health program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which encourages veterans to proactively improve their health and wellness. Under the Department’s current policy, veterans in priority groups (1) through (5) are exempted from making copayments under this program. It is the sense of Congress that the Department should provide all veterans with affordable access to Whole Health well-being services.
Copayments— Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“1730D. Copayments for Whole Health well-being services
“(a) In general—Notwithstanding subsections (f) and (g) of section 1710 and section 1722A(a) of this title or any other provision of law, the Secretary may not require a veteran to make any copayment for the receipt by that veteran of Whole Health well-being services, except as provided in this section.
“(b) Monthly copayments authorized
“(1) In general—Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary may require a veteran to make a monthly copayment for the Whole Health well-being services received by that veteran for that month.
“(2) Monthly limit—The monthly copayment may not exceed $30.
“(3) Exemption for certain priority groups—The Secretary may not require a veteran within priority group (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) in the system of enrollment under section 1705(a) of this title to make any copayment for the services received by that veteran.
“(c) Definition—In this section, the term “Whole Health well-being services” means—
“(1) educational and skill-building services that educate, instruct, and empower veterans to understand and implement the principles and practices of Whole Health, such as Whole Health coaching, Whole Health partner sessions, and Whole Health education and skill-building courses; and
“(2) complementary and integrative health well-being services that promote health, well-being, and self-care independent of treatment of a specific medical condition or diagnosis, such as guided imagery, meditation, Tai Chi/Qigong, and yoga for well-being.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1730C the following new item: