[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2359 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2359

     To require a report on military health care referral policies.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 18, 2023

  Mr. Ossoff introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To require a report on military health care referral policies.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Servicemember Mental Health Support 
Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH CARE REFERRAL POLICIES.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report--
            (1) detailing the mental health care referral policies of 
        the Armed Forces; and
            (2) the impact of removing primary care referral 
        requirements for outpatient mental health care on--
                    (A) military readiness;
                    (B) the uptake of outpatient mental health care 
                services by members of the Armed Forces; and
                    (C) suicide prevention.
    (b) Recommendations.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include recommendations and legislative proposals--
            (1) to improve resources and access for outpatient mental 
        health care services by members of the Armed Forces;
            (2) to encourage the uptake of such services by such 
        members; and
            (3) to maintain military readiness.
                                 <all>