Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), to introduce the bipartisan Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act. The legislation would require an independent organization outside of the government to conduct a study to assess the quality of care veterans receive for mental and addiction health treatment from providers within and outside the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“Our veterans have sacrificed so much to keep us safe, and we must do everything we can to ensure they have the care and resources they’ve earned,” said Bennet. “Our bipartisan bill is an important step toward understanding the barriers veterans face and improving their access to high-quality substance abuse and mental health services.”
“The brave men and women who served our nation should never be denied access to the high-quality care they deserve,” said Cornyn. “This legislation recognizes the unique mental health challenges our veterans face and aims to improve the VA system by providing an independent evaluation of the quality of life we’re providing for our nation’s bravest.”
“Veterans deserve the health care that they have earned, and that includes mental health care,” said Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will help veterans make informed choices about whether to seek mental health care through the VA or community providers, and will help identify potential areas of improvement for mental health care for veterans. I will continue to work to ensure that New Hampshire’s veterans who have sacrificed so much to keep our communities safe, secure, and free are able to access high-quality care.”
“Every veteran must receive the care and services they need to address the risk of suicide and addiction,” said Cassidy. “There is no room for failure.”
“Our veterans made the honorable decision to serve our country, and we have a responsibility to ensure they receive the best possible health care during and after their service,” said Collins. “Too many veterans face serious mental health struggles, including PTSD and addiction, yet they often encounter barriers to getting the care they need. By reviewing the quality of mental health and addiction treatment available to them—both within and outside the VA—this bipartisan legislation would help improve access to higher-quality care, so that fewer veterans are left without the support they deserve.”
“We must do everything we can to ensure veterans have access to the quality and affordable health care they need,” said Peters. “I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan bill that would assess the current state of mental health and addiction services available to veterans to determine any potential changes that are needed to deliver first-rate care for our nation’s heroes.”
The VA is home to the nation’s largest integrated health care system and provides comprehensive health services to enrolled U.S. military veterans. However, recent estimates indicate that as many as 70% of VA-eligible veterans receive their care from external providers.
Given the high rate of veteran suicide due to mental and behavioral health issues, the Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act would require an independent and objective organization outside of the VA to conduct a study to better understand if current practices provide veterans with the best mental and addiction quality of care.
Specifically, the bill would require a study to:
- Analyze the results of comparable instances of mental and behavioral health care between inside and outside providers using objective criteria such as symptom scores and suicide risk;
- Ascertain to what extent outside providers are using evidence-based practices in the treatment of mental and behavioral health issues;
- Identify potential gaps in coordination between internal and external providers in responding to individuals seeking mental or behavioral health care;
- Evaluate the availability of coordinated care for veterans who have separate or related conditions, which may be impacting their mental health;
- Assess providers’ military cultural competency;
- Gauge the ease and flexibility of sharing medical records with a veteran’s health care team;
- Consider to what extent providers are conducting outcome monitoring throughout a veteran’s treatment to track progress or lack thereof; and
- Measure overall patient satisfaction.
Bennet previously joined colleagues to introduce this bill in December 2023.
In addition to Bennet, Cornyn, Hassan, Cassidy, and Peters, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also cosponsored this legislation.
This legislation is supported by the Disabled American Veterans Association, the American Psychological Association, and the Veteran Health Care Policy Initiative.
The text of the bill is available HERE.