H.R. 8793

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8793 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8793

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a list of 
covered providers that complete annual training on the prevention of 
suicide among veterans and to make such list available to veterans.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 13, 2026

Mr. Huizenga (for himself, Mr. Correa, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Lawler, and Mr. 
Smith of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a list of 
covered providers that complete annual training on the prevention of 
suicide among veterans and to make such list available to veterans.

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 ``Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care 
Enhancement Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PREFERRED PROVIDER LIST FOR VETERANS COMMUNITY 
CARE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make 
available to covered providers annual, evidence-based training on the 
prevention of suicide among veterans.
(b) Preferred Provider List.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(A) establish and maintain a list (to be known as 
the ``preferred provider list'') of each covered 
provider that completes the training under subsection 
(a); and
(B) make such list publicly available to veterans 
eligible for health care under the laws administered by 
the Secretary.
(2) Non-department training.--The Secretary shall include 
on the preferred provider list any covered provider that the 
Secretary determines has completed training that--
(A) is substantially similar to the training 
required by such subsection; and
(B) meets the applicable competency standard for 
military health care professionals.
(3) Opt-out.--A covered provider desiring to be removed 
from the preferred provider list may submit to the Secretary a 
request in such form, at such time, and containing such 
information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(4) Annual review.--The Secretary shall, on an annual 
basis, review the preferred provider list to ensure each 
covered provider included on such list has completed such 
training.
(c) Covered Provider Defined.--In this section, the term ``covered 
provider'' means--
(1) a health care provider specified in subsection (c) of 
section 1703 of title 38, United States Code; and
(2) an eligible entity or medical provider that has entered 
into a Veterans Care Agreement under section 1703A of such 
title.

SEC. 3. REPORT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the day of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
the following:
(1) The number of providers who completed the VA-offered 
suicide prevention training prior to the implementation of the 
Preferred Provider List outline in Sec. 2(b).
(2) The number of Community Care Network providers who 
completed a different suicide prevention training not offered 
by the VA prior to the implementation of the Preferred Provider 
List.
(3) The number of providers currently on the Preferred 
Provider List, bifurcated by those who utilized the VA-offered 
suicide prevention training and those providers who received 
the waiver outlined in Sec. 2(b)(2).
(4) The likelihood of veterans utilizing providers on the 
Preferred Provider List rather than a provider not found on the 
Preferred Provider List.
(5) Any patterns apparent to the Secretary based on the 
review of the implementation of the Preferred Provider List.
(6) Any recommendations for further action that would 
improve and enhance the Preferred Provider List with the 
objective of increasing access to care for veterans.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
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