Veterans Mental Health Services Enhancement Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-922
Sponsor: Rep. Ford, Harold E., Jr. [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2005-02-17 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Ambulatory care
Armed forces abroad
Armed forces reserves
Case management
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Community health services
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Group counseling
Health
Iraq
Medical personnel
Medical records
Mental health services
Middle East and North Africa
Military discharges
Military medicine
Military operations
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Psychiatrists
Right of privacy
South Asia
Tennessee
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: 
Veterans Mental Health Services Enhancement Act of 2005 - Authorizes appropriations for the employment of additional psychiatrists and other mental health services specialists at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and outpatient facilities specializing in the diagnoses and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 
 
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a nationwide outreach program at the community level for veterans who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom who are or may be suffering from PTSD.
 
Directs the Secretary of each military department to conduct a comprehensive review of the mental health care programs of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of that Secretary to determine ways to improve the efficacy of such care. 
 
Requires the Secretary of each military department to take special care in providing for as seamless a transition as possible from Department of Defense health care services to Department of Veterans Affairs health care services with regard to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to combat or are otherwise at risk for PTSD.
 
Requires the Secretary of each military department and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) assess the adequacy of privacy and patient confidentiality standards and practices of their respective departments, particularly with regard to patients seeking treatment for PTSD; and (2) identify other factors that may deter members of the Armed Forces from seeking treatment for PTSD.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: Introduced in House