119-HR3863

Bill is currently in: House
Path to Law
House Senate President

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3863

1. Short title
2. Mental health consultations and outreach to a veteran receiving compensation for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act".

2. Mental health consultations and outreach to a veteran receiving compensation for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis

(a) Annual consultation; outreach - The section 1167 of title 38, United States Code, relating to mental health consultations is amended—

(1) - in subsection (a), in the subsection heading, by striking "In general" and inserting "Initial consultation";

(2) - by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively;

(3) Annual consultation; outreach - by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b):

(b) Annual consultation; outreach - Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall, with regards to a veteran who is receiving compensation under this chapter for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis—

(1) - offer a mental health consultation to assess the mental health needs of, and discuss other mental health care options for, the veteran; and

(2) - conduct outreach regarding the availability of—

(A) - consultations under paragraph (1); and

(B) - other mental health services furnished by the Secretary.

(4) - in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting "or (b)" after "under subsection (a)" both places it appears; and

(5) - in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting ", or to require the reevaluation of any entitlement of the veteran to compensation under this chapter" before the period at the end.

(b) Technical corrections -

(1) Redesignation - Such section, as amended, is redesignated as section 1169 of such title.

(2) Clerical amendments - The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended—

(A) - by striking the item relating to the section 1167 that relates to mental health consultations; and

(B) - by inserting after the item relating to section 1168 the following new item:

(c) GAO review - Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the effect of the amendments made by this section. Elements of such report shall include—

(1) - the number of veterans who received—

(A) - mental health consultations under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of section 1169 of such title; and

(B) - outreach under paragraph (2) of such subsection;

(2) - whether veterans reported barriers to seeking such consultations; and

(3) - such barriers, if any.