Enhancement of Veterans Mental Health Services Act - Authorizes appropriations for the employment of additional psychiatrists and other mental health services specialists at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and outpatient facilities specializing in the diagnoses and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a nationwide outreach program at the community level for veterans who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom who are or may be suffering from PTSD.
Directs the Secretary of each military department to conduct a comprehensive review of the mental health care programs of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of that Secretary to determine ways to improve the efficacy of such care.
Requires the Secretary of each military department to take special care in providing for as seamless a transition as possible from Department of Defense health care services to Department of Veterans Affairs health care services with regard to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to combat or are otherwise at risk for PTSD.
Requires the Secretary of each military department and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) assess the adequacy of privacy and patient confidentiality standards and practices of their respective departments, particularly with regard to patients seeking treatment for PTSD; and (2) identify other factors that may deter members of the Armed Forces from seeking treatment for PTSD.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4798 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4798
To improve post-traumatic stress disorder treatment for veterans of
service in Afghanistan and Iraq and the war on terror.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2004
Mr. Ford introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve post-traumatic stress disorder treatment for veterans of
service in Afghanistan and Iraq and the war on terror.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancement of Veterans Mental
Health Services Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) A study published in the New England Journal of
Medicine reported that about one in six soldiers of the Iraq
war displays symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
(2) Clinical experts are anticipating an increase in the
number of post-traumatic stress disorder cases in light of the
increasing duration of military deployment.
(3) 86 of 163 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Centers have post-traumatic stress disorder treatment programs.
(4) Section 1706 of title 38, United States Code, requires
that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs ensure, in accordance
with that section, that the Department of Veterans Affairs
maintains its capacity to provide for the specialized treatment
and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans within distinct
programs or facilities of the Deparment.
SEC. 3. POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT FOR VETERANS OF
SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ AND THE WAR ON TERROR.
(a) Enhanced Capacity for Department of Veterans Affairs.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
``Medical Care'' the amount of $100,000,000 for the employment
of additional psychiatrists and other mental health services
specialists at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers
and outpatient facilities specializing in the diagnosis and
treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
(2) Allocation of funds.--Funds made available pursuant to
the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall, to
the extent funds are available for such purpose, be used to
employ at least one psychiatrist and a complementary clinical
team at each medical center of the Department of Veterans
Affairs in order to conduct a specialized program for the
diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and
to employ additional mental health services specialists at the
medical center.
(b) Outreach at the Community Level.--
(1) Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall,
within the authorities of the Secretary under title 38, United
States Code, carry out a program to provide outreach at the
community level to veterans who participated in Operation Iraqi
Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom who are or may be
suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
(2) Program sites.--The program shall be carried out on a
nation-wide basis through facilities of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
(3) Program content.--The program shall provide for
individualized case management to be conducted on a one-on-one
basis, counseling, education, and group therapy to help
participants cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. The
program--
(A) shall emphasize early identification of
veterans who may be experiencing symptoms of post-
traumatic stress disorder; and
(B) shall include group-oriented, peer-to-peer
settings for treatment.
(4) Program model.--The Secretary shall establish and carry
out the program under this subsection using as a model the
program for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder
conducted at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center
in Memphis, Tennessee.
SEC. 4. ARMED FORCES REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.
(a) Review of Mental Health Programs.--The Secretary of each
military department shall conduct a comprehensive review of the mental
health care programs of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of that
Secretary in order to determine ways to improve the efficacy of such
care, including a review of joint Department of Defense and Department
of Veterans Affairs clinical guidelines to ensure a seamless delivery
of care during transitions from active duty or reserve status to
civilian life.
(b) Report to Congress.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit to
Congress a report setting forth the results of such review not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 5. TRANSITION TO VETERANS HEALTH CARE.
The Secretary of each military department shall take special care
in providing for as seamless a transition as possible from Department
of Defense health care services to Department of Veterans Affairs
health care services in the case of members of the Armed Forces who are
being discharged or separated from active duty and who have been
identified by the Secretary as having been exposed to combat or
otherwise as being at particular risk for post-traumatic stress
disorder.
SEC. 6. PRIVACY SAFEGUARDS.
The Secretary of each military department and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall assess privacy and patient confidentiality
standards and practices of their respective departments to ensure that
those standards and practices are adequate to protect the privacy of
patients, particularly in the case of patients seeking treatment for
post-traumatic stress disorder. Each of those Secretaries shall also
assess and identify other factors that may deter members of the Armed
Forces and veterans from seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress
disorder.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line