Reduce and Eliminate Mental Health Outpatient Veteran Copays Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7589) to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the imposition or collection of copayments for certain mental health outpatient care visits of veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7589

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Reduce and Eliminate Mental Health Outpatient Veteran Copays Act'' or the ``REMOVE Copays Act''. SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR FIRST THREE MENTAL HEALTH CARE OUTPATIENT VISITS OF VETERANS.

(a) Prohibition on Collection.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1722B the following new section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): ``Sec. 1722C. Copayments: prohibition on collection of

copayments for first three mental health care outpatient

visits of veterans

``(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b), notwithstanding section 1710(g) of this title or any other provision of law, the Secretary may not impose or collect a copayment for the first three mental health care outpatient visits of a veteran in a calendar year for which the veteran would otherwise be required to pay a copayment under the laws administered by the Secretary.

``(b) Copayment for Medications.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to the imposition or collection of copayments for medications pursuant to section 1722A of this title.

``(c) Mental Health Care Outpatient Visit Defined.--In this section, the term `mental health care outpatient visit' means an outpatient visit with a qualified mental health professional for the primary purpose of seeking mental health care or treatment for substance abuse disorder.''.

(b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to mental health care outpatient visits occurring on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

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Mr. TAKANO. 7589, as amended.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, as we all know, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. I hope everyone has the new crisis hotline number, 988, saved on their phones. If you or a veteran you care about is in crisis, please dial 988, and press 1 to reach trained responders at the Veterans Crisis Line. Again, let me repeat the number. Dial 988 and press 1 to reach trained responders at the Veterans Crisis Line.

One component of a public health approach to veteran suicide prevention is ensuring that all of our Nation's heroes have access to timely, high-quality, effective mental health care.

Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to bring up my bill, H.R. 7589, as amended, the Reduce and Eliminate Mental Health Outpatient Veteran Copays or REMOVE Copays Act. We reported this bill favorably out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee last week on a bipartisan voice vote. I thank Ranking Member Bost for his support of this bill.

H.R. 7589 turns a legislative proposal from the Department of Veterans Affairs into a law that will make every enrolled veteran's first three outpatient mental health appointment at VA free every year. We know that what may seem like low copays can, in fact, be significant financial barriers for many veterans. Our goal is to knock down all barriers for veterans seeking and accessing mental health care at the VA.

VA strongly supports this bill, as do veterans service organizations and mental health groups. If we can enact this into law, VA will be the first of hopefully all Federal healthcare programs to eliminate copays for mental health care every year in this way and get people the help they need.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this vital piece of legislation, H.R.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, again, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7589, as amended. I do thank my colleague, the ranking member. It is an example of standing our ground where we must and finding common ground where we can.

Lastly, I close by saying, please dial 988 and press 1 to reach trained responders at the Veterans Crisis Line.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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