Veterans Mental Health Crisis Referral Enhancement Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-1290
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
Introduced: 2025-02-13
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Health care coverage and access

Mental health

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2025-03-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Veterans Mental Health Crisis Referral Enhancement Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program under which Vet Centers and VA medical facilities provide veterans who are experiencing mental health crises with referrals to approved non-VA mental health care providers.</p><p>The VA must&nbsp;report on the implementation, outcomes, and effectiveness of the pilot program.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1290 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 13, 2025 Mr. Buchanan (for himself and Mr. Murphy ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Department of Veterans Affairs refers veterans experiencing mental health crises to approved non-Department mental health care providers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Mental Health Crisis Referral Enhancement Act of 2025 . 2. Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program on mental health referrals (a) Pilot program Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a three-year pilot program under which Vet Centers and medical facilities of the Department provide veterans experiencing mental health crises with referrals to non-Department mental health care providers approved by the Secretary. (b) Locations The Secretary shall select at least three geographic locations at which to carry out the pilot program required under subsection (a). (c) Requirements In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) develop and maintain a referral system to connect veterans experiencing mental health crises with non-Department mental health care providers within one week; (2) develop criteria for the approval of non-Department mental health care providers for purposes of referrals under the program; (3) hire any additional employees required to facilitate referrals under the system; and (4) provide appropriate training to employees of Vet Centers and medical facilities of the Department on the referral system. (d) Reports (1) Annual reports Not later than six months after the last day of each year during which the Secretary carries out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation and outcomes of the pilot program. Each such report shall include the following for the year covered by the report: (A) The number of veterans referred to non-Department mental health care providers under the pilot program. (B) The average wait time for a veteran to receive mental health care after receiving a referral under the pilot program. (C) An evaluation of veteran satisfaction with the mental health care received through the referral system. (2) Final report Not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a final report containing an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program and the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to expanding or modifying the referral system developed under the program. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the pilot program required under subsection (a) $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027.