More than 40 percent of the veterans returning from Iraq require mental health treatment and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held hearings on eight relevant bills yesterday.
They include:
HR 4231 – Rural Veterans Health Care Access Act of 2007 -- calling for vouchers for services 30 miles from a VA facility – which the VA opposes arguing it creates fragmented care, permits a non-VA provider to recommend treatment, and applies to residents of urban as well as rural areas.
HR 4053 Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007 -- improving behavioral service delivery, provides for, among other things, co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. The testimony of Dr. Gerald Cross repeated objections initially voiced in October's hearings.
HR 2847 Veterans’ Health Improvements Act of 2007 which expands programs for family members and specifies peer outreach.
Emergency medical care in non-VA hospitals H.R. 4146 , and services for women soldiers H.R. 4107 were also addressed.
Print and audio transcripts are available at House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Related
Peer-to-Peer: Returning vets' mental health care
Meeting the crisis in veteran health
Did You Like This Post? Share!
