Improving Mental Health Care for Veterans Act of 2020

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to develop a clinical practice guideline or guidelines for the treatment of serious mental illness. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Mental Health Care for Veterans Act of 2020 2. Establishment by Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense of clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of serious mental illness (a) In general Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall complete the development of a clinical practice guideline or guidelines for the treatment of serious mental illness, to include the following conditions: (1) Schizophrenia. (2) Schizoaffective disorder. (3) Persistent mood disorder, including bipolar disorder I and II. (4) Any other mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment that substantially interferes with major life activities as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, considers appropriate. (b) Matters included in guidelines The clinical practice guideline or guidelines developed under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) Guidance contained in the 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Major Depressive Disorders of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. (2) Guidance with respect to the treatment of patients with a condition described in subsection (a). (3) A list of evidence-based therapies for the treatment of conditions described in subsection (a). (4) An appropriate guideline for the administration of pharmacological therapy, psychological or behavioral therapy, or other therapy for the management of conditions described in subsection (a). (c) Assessment of existing guidelines Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall complete an assessment of the 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Major Depressive Disorders to determine whether an update to such guidelines is necessary. (d) Work group (1) Establishment The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall create a work group to develop the clinical practice guideline or guidelines under subsection (a) to be known as the Serious Mental Illness Work Group Work Group (2) Membership The Work Group created under paragraph (1) shall be comprised of individuals that represent Federal Government entities and non-Federal Government entities with expertise in the areas covered by the Work Group, including the following entities: (A) Academic institutions that specialize in research for the treatment of conditions described in subsection (a). (B) The Health Services Research and Development Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (C) The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use of the Department of Health and Human Services. (D) The National Institute of Mental Health. (E) The Indian Health Service. (F) Relevant organizations with expertise in researching, diagnosing, or treating conditions described in subsection (a). (3) Relation to other work groups The Work Group shall be created and conducted in the same manner as other work groups for the development of clinical practice guidelines for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. (e) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense from considering all relevant evidence, as appropriate, in creating the clinical practice guideline or guidelines required under subsection (a) or from ensuring that the final clinical practice guideline or guidelines developed under such subsection and subsequently updated, as appropriate, remain applicable to the patient populations of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.

Summary: Improving Mental Health Care for Veterans Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to complete the development of a clinical practice guideline or guidelines for the treatment of serious mental illness. Under the bill, such guidelines must address the treatment of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and persistent mood disorder (including bipolar disorder I and II). The VA must establish the Serious Mental Illness Work Group with the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services to develop such clinical practice guideline or guidelines. Finally, the VA must complete an assessment of the 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Major Depressive Disorders to determine if an update is necessary.