Sponsors (9)
The bill improves and expedites targeted mental-health outreach for veterans—especially those transitioning from active duty or experiencing trauma—but creates modest administrative costs and privacy risks if consent and funding are not well handled.
Veterans who experience trauma will be able to opt to receive timely information and resources about mental health and VA mental health services, improving their access to care.
Recently separated service members will receive coordinated outreach through the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program so they learn about VA mental health supports during their transition to civilian life.
Veterans will gain access sooner because the VA is required to establish the outreach system within two years, creating near-term accountability for implementation.
Taxpayers and veterans may face higher VA administrative costs because creating and operating a new outreach system requires funding and could divert resources from other services if not fully funded.
Veterans may receive outreach messages they did not want if opt-in and consent procedures are not carefully designed, raising privacy and unwanted-contact concerns.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires VA to create an outreach program offering enrolled veterans information and resources about mental health after traumatic or highly stressful events, coordinated with DoD TAP.
Official title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a patient outreach system relating to mental health care, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 16, 2025 by Robert J. Wittman · Last progress January 16, 2025
Creates a VA outreach program that offers enrolled veterans who experience a traumatic or highly stressful event information and resources about mental health and available VA mental health care. The VA must coordinate the outreach with the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program and set up the system within two years of enactment for veterans enrolled under the annual patient enrollment rules.