Mental health consultations and outreach to a veteran receiving compensation for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis

(a)

Annual consultation; outreach

The section 1167 of title 38, United States Code, relating to mental health consultations is amended—(1)in subsection (a), in the subsection heading, by striking

In general

and inserting

Initial consultation

;(2)by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively;(3)by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsections:

(b)

Annual consultation; outreach

Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall, with regards to a veteran who is receiving compensation under this chapter for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis—(1)offer a mental health consultation to assess the mental health needs of, and discuss other mental health care options for, the veteran; and(2)conduct outreach (unless a veteran elects not to receive such outreach)—(A)regarding the availability of consultations under paragraph (1) and other mental health services furnished by the Secretary; and(B)using methods described in subsection (c).(c)

Outreach methods

Outreach methods described in this subsection consist of—(1)successfully contacting the veteran by telephone call or text message; (2)if the Secretary does not make such contact, not fewer than two telephone calls or text messages; or(3)if the Secretary does not have a telephone number for the veteran—(A)at least one email; or(B)if the Secretary does not have an email address for the veteran, at least one letter.

;

(4)in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting or (b) after under subsection (a) both places it appears; and(5)in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting , or to require the reevaluation of any entitlement of the veteran to compensation under this chapter before the period at the end.(b)

Technical corrections

(1)

Redesignation

Such section, as amended, is redesignated as section 1169 of such title.(2)

Clerical amendments

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended—(A)by striking the item relating to the section 1167 that relates to mental health consultations; and(B)by inserting after the item relating to section 1168 the following new item:

1169. Mental health consultations.

(c)

Annual report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter for three additional years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the outreach methods under subsection (c) of section 1169 of such title. Elements of such report shall include the following:(1)The respective rates of success, in attempting to contact veterans, for such methods.(2)With regards to each such method, the number of times and percentage of attempts that the Secretary determined such attempt was unsuccessful.(3)With regards to unsuccessful attempts described in paragraph (2), a breakdown of which other methods of outreach the Secretary used to attempt to contact veterans.(4)With regards to each such method, the number of times and percentage of attempts that led to a veteran engaging with mental health services furnished by the Secretary.(5)The number and percentage of veterans who elected not to receive such outreach.(d)

GAO review

Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the effect of the amendments made by this section. Elements of such report shall include—(1)the number of veterans who received—(A)mental health consultations under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of section 1169 of such title;(B)outreach under paragraph (2) of such subsection; and(C)which outreach method under subsection (c) of such section was the most effective method to reach a veteran;(2)whether veterans reported barriers to seeking such consultations; and(3)such barriers, if any.