VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act
Sponsor
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13](D-IL-13)Summary
VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer an annual mental health consultation to veterans who are receiving compensation for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis. Additionally, the VA must conduct outreach regarding the availability of such consultations and other mental health services unless a veteran opts out of outreach.
The bill requires the VA to utilize specified methods in its outreach efforts and to provide annual reports for the four years following the enactment of the bill regarding the outreach methods used to inform veterans about mental health consultations and services.
The Government Accountability Office must report on the effect of this bill, including by reporting on the number of veterans who received mental health consultations and which outreach methods were most successful in reaching such veterans.
The bill also extends certain higher loan fee rates through May 12, 2035, under the VA's home loan program. Such rates currently last through June 9, 2034.