Proposed legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct proactive outreach to veterans with mental health-related service-connected disabilities.
The legislation, introduced June 10 by U.S. Reps. Nikki Budzinski and Chuck Edwards, would require the VA to reach out to veterans with mental health-related conditions on an annual basis, to offer a consultation on mental health and care options and share information about other VA mental health services.
Here are three things to know:
- The bill would require the U.S. Government Accountability Office to conduct a review of the efficacy of the outreach program within two years of its establishment.
- A May report from the GAO found gaps in coordination of medical records between VA medical centers and community mental health providers. The agency is not monitoring the extent to which community providers complete trainings on opioid safety, suicide prevention and other topics, according to the GAO.
- The legislation is designed to ease the burden for Veterans navigating the VA system for mental healthcare, according to a June 10 news release from Ms. Budzinski.
“Navigating the VA should never be an added burden on our veterans and this legislation will help make the first step easier to get connected with the care they need,” she said.
