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The Never Fight Alone Act expands the Veterans Community Care Program to help veterans access mental health and substance-use residential treatment services in their communities when the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot provide timely care. Under current law, veterans waiting for mental health residential treatment programs can struggle to get approved for community-based alternatives; this bill allows the VA to refer eligible veterans to community providers when the VA facility cannot meet its own access standards or cannot accommodate priority admissions. The legislation sets minimum standards for community treatment programs, requiring state licensure and accreditation from recognized organizations, though the VA can waive these requirements on a case-by-case basis if no other options exist. The bill also requires the VA to develop new access standards within 90 days to ensure mental health care is not more restrictive than other specialty care, permits veterans to choose their preferred care option when multiple are available, and mandates annual reporting on community care requests, approvals, and denials. Additionally, any future changes to community care access standards by the VA would require Congressional approval through joint resolution.

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