H.R. 3863: VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act

This bill, known as the VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act, aims to enhance mental health support for veterans who receive compensation due to service-connected mental health disabilities.

Key Provisions

• Annual Mental Health Consultations: The bill mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must offer an annual mental health consultation to veterans who are receiving compensation for service-connected mental health conditions. This consultation is intended to assess their mental health needs and discuss available mental health care options.
• Outreach Efforts: Alongside the annual consultation, the bill requires the Secretary to conduct outreach to these veterans about the availability of mental health services. This outreach focuses on both the consultations and other mental health services that the Department of Veterans Affairs provides.
• Review by GAO: The bill includes a provision that, within two years of its enactment, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs. This report will assess the impact of the bill, including the number of veterans receiving consultations and the outreach efforts, as well as any barriers that veterans may face when seeking these services.
• Technical Corrections: The bill makes necessary technical amendments to existing laws, including redesignating certain sections related to mental health consultations.

The overarching goal of the bill is to ensure that veterans who are already recognized for mental health disabilities receive appropriate support and encouragement to access mental health care services annually.

Relevant Companies

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