; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) to ensure access of veterans to community health care providers. (3) The eligibility standards established by the VA MISSION Act were not meant to be used to limit health care options for veterans or to be applied to community providers, which would result in reduced health care options. (4) Many veterans do not have access to a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs in their community and each medical facility of the Department may not be able to adequately address the specific health care needs of a particular veteran. (5) It was the intent of Congress in the VA MISSION Act that all medical services, including mental health treatments and institutional extended care services for mental health, were to be available to veterans in the community. (6) The Department is limiting access of veterans to community care for mental health treatments. (7) Despite the best efforts of the Department, veteran suicide remains at significant levels throughout the United States. (8) No veteran should have to wait 30 days for mental health services to be approved by the Department. (9) Telehealth appointments represent a valuable complementary health care option for underserved veterans, but do not offer the same quality of care as in-person visits to facilities of the Department or in the community for veterans in crisis. 3. Expansion of Veterans Community Care Program to include access to mental health or substance-use services for veterans unable to timely access Mental Health Residential Treatment Programs (a) In general Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1) (i) in subparagraph (D), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or