PRINTER'S NO. 665
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.654
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, MASTRIANO, GEBHARD, BARTOLOTTA,
ROBINSON, KANE, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA, KEARNEY, VOGEL, COSTA,
CULVER, STEFANO, J. WARD, HUTCHINSON, FLYNN AND MILLER,
APRIL 21, 2025
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
APRIL 21, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions,
establishing the Veterans Mental Health Services Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 100
VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM
Sec.
10001. Scope of chapter.
10002. Definitions.
10003. Veterans Mental Health Services Program.
§ 10001. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to providing mental health care for
veterans who have exhausted their Federal benefits or are in
acute crisis.
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17 § 10002. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Acute crisis." When an individual is in need of immediate
mental health care to protect the safety and well-being of the
individual or the public.
"Department." The Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs of the Commonwealth.
"Eligible veteran." An individual who served in the United
States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the
National Guard, and who meets the requirements under section
10003(e) (relating to Veterans Mental Health Services Program) .
"Health care provider." As defined in 45 CFR 160.103
(relating to definitions) as of the effective date of this
section.
"Participating health care provider." A health care provider
who provides mental health services to veterans under the
program.
"Program." The Veterans Mental Health Services Program
established under section 10003(a).
"Treatment." As defined in 45 CFR 164.501 (relating to
definitions).
"Veterans Affairs." The United States Department of Veterans
Affairs.
§ 10003. Veterans Mental Health Services Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Veterans Mental Health Services
Program is established within the department to provide mental
health care to veterans.
(b) Reimbursement.--The department shall reimburse
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30 participating health care providers. The following shall apply:
(1) An eligible veteran may receive five reimbursed
sessions per year.
(2) The department may grant an eligible veteran
additional sessions if determined by the health care provider
that the sessions are necessary and the department has:
(i) the resources necessary to reimburse the health
care provider; and
(ii) approved the additional sessions before they
occur.
(c) Program guidelines.--In consultation with the Department
of Human Services, the department shall determine program
guidelines for eligible veterans and health care providers.
(d) List of participating providers.--The department shall
publish on the department's publicly accessible Internet website
a list of participating health care providers.
(e) Eligibility requirements.--In order to be eligible to
participate in the program, the following must apply to the
veteran:
(1) The veteran was discharged or released from service
under conditions other than dishonorable.
(2) Either of the following:
(i) The veteran's benefits related to mental health
services provided by Veterans Affairs have been exhausted
for the year in which the veteran seeks to participate in
the program.
(ii) The veteran is in acute crisis.
(f) Declaration form.--The department shall prescribe and
provide participating health care providers with a form on which
the eligible veteran shall declare that the eligible veteran has
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30 complied with the requirement under subsection (e)(2)(i), if
applicable.
(g) Treatment requirements.--Prior to treatment, an eligible
veteran shall provide the participating health care provider
with:
(1) A valid identification card that:
(i) clearly indicates that the individual is a
veteran of the United States Armed Forces; and
(ii) includes a photo of the veteran.
(2) The completed form required under subsection (f).
(h) Report.--
(1) No later than December 31 of each year, the
department shall issue a report regarding the program,
including the number of:
(i) eligible veterans participating in the program
per county;
(ii) health care providers participating in the
program per county; and
(iii) mental health care sessions provided by the
program per county.
(2) The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to
the following:
(i) The President pro tempore of the Senate.
(ii) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(iii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of
the Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
(iv) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
(v) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate.
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30 (vi) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
(vii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of
the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee
of the Senate.
(viii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of
the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee
of the House of Representatives.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 120 days.
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