12 2 STA T .4 11 8PUBLIC LA W 11 0–3 8 7—O CT. 10 , 2008 (A)INGE NE RAL.—TheS e cr e ta r ys ha l lc ondu cta tra i nin gp rogra mf or clinicians of community mental health centers , Indian H ealth Ser v ice facilities, or other entities participating in the pilot program under su b section (b) to ensure that such clinicians can provide the services described in paragraphs ( 3 )and( 4 ) of subsection (a) in a manner that accounts for factors that are uni q ue to the e x periences of veterans w ho served on active duty in O peration Iraqi F reedom or Operation E nduring Freedom (including their combat and military training experiences). ( B ) P AR TIC I P ATI O N IN TRAINING.—Personnel of each community mental health center, facility of the Indian Health Service, or other entity participating in the pilot program under subsection (b) shall participate in the training program conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A). (i) ANN U AL R EPORT S .—Each community mental health center, facility of the Indian Health Service, or other entity participating in the pilot program under subsection (b) shall submit to the Sec - retary on an annual basis a report containing, with respect to the provision of services under subsection (b) and for the last full calendar year ending before the submission of such report— ( 1 ) the number of— (A) veterans served
and (B) courses of treatment provided; and ( 2 ) demographic information for such services, diagnoses, and courses of treatment. ( j ) PROGRA M E V ALUATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, through D epartment of V eterans Affairs M ental Health Services investigators and in collaboration with relevant program offices of the Depart- ment, design and implement a strategy for evaluating the pilot program. (2) ELEMENTS.—The strategy implemented under para- graph (1) shall assess the impact that contracting with commu- nity mental health centers, the Indian Health Service, and other entities participating in the pilot program under sub- section (b) has on the following
(A) Access to mental health care by veterans in need of such care. (B) The use of telehealth services by veterans for mental health care needs. ( C ) The quality of mental health care and substance use disorder treatment services provided to veterans in need of such care and services. (D) The coordination of mental health care and other medical services provided to veterans. ( k )DE F INITIONS.—In this section: (1) The term ‘ ‘community mental health center ’ ’ has the meaning given such term in section 41 0 .2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act). (2) The term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means a veteran in need of mental health services who— (A) is enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system; and
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