Military/Veterans Mental Health

Congress should appropriate additional funding to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to increase the number of mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) providers, decrease wait and travel times, and attract culturally competent providers that serve the unique needs of the nation’s Veterans.[1][2]

Congress should amend 42 U.S.C. § 254e(a)(2) to extend and fund the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to include Veterans’ Health Administration facilities and clinics by explicitly including those facilities and clinics under the definition of the term “medical facility.” [1][2]

The Department of Veterans Affairs should update its National Formulary to make all clinically appropriate non-opioid therapies available to patients.

Congress should pass the VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act.