Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery Act
The Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery Act (RECOVER Act) would create a three-year pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Under this program, the VA would award grants to eligible non-profit outpatient mental health providers to deliver culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care to veterans. Grants may support existing facilities or help establish new ones, with the goal of expanding access to high-quality care and encouraging enrollment in the VA patient enrollment system. The bill emphasizes training for clinicians in culturally competent care, equitable grant distribution between rural and urban areas, and prioritization for medically underserved areas, high veteran populations, proximity to military installations, or areas with elevated suicide risk. It would also require reporting to Congress after the pilot ends and would authorize $20 million per year for 2025–2027 (total of $60 million).
Key Points
- 1Establishes a 3-year VA pilot program to grant funds to eligible non-profit outpatient mental health providers to deliver culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care to veterans.
- 2Eligibility: non-profit providers that have operated at least one outpatient facility for at least three years; must submit an application detailing facility locations, a plan ensuring at least one clinician is trained in culturally competent veteran care, and the percentage of each facility’s operating budget funded by federal grants in the prior year.
- 3Use of funds and access: grants must be used to provide veteran care, operate or establish outpatient facilities, and promote VA enrollment; providers may not charge veterans fees for such care or refuse care based on reimbursement eligibility, though they may seek reimbursement from federal, state, local, or private sources.
- 4Grant amounts and limits: generally up to $1,500,000 per facility per year; if a facility had 50% or more of its prior-year operating budget funded by federal grants, the grant cap is the lesser of 50% of the facility’s operating budget or $1,500,000. Recipients may fund multiple facilities and may reapply for facilities already funded.
- 5Selection and priorities: grants distributed to achieve rural-urban balance; considerations include the facility’s veteran population served, and prioritization for medically underserved areas, proximity to military installations, large veteran populations, or areas with high suicide risk.
- 6Training and oversight: the Secretary would specify training requirements for clinicians and establish regulations to ensure accountability, measurable clinical outcomes, and transparent use of funds with reporting metrics.
- 7Reporting: a comprehensive report to Congress within 180 days after the pilot ends, covering veterans served, demographics, types and timing of care, outcomes, enrollment in VA’s patient enrollment system, and obstacles encountered.
- 8Funding authorization: $20 million per fiscal year for 2025–2027 (totaling $60 million).