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Bill115th CongressFiled Feb 7, 2017Armed Forces and National Security
H.R. 918

Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Nov 7, 2017)

Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish to former members of the Armed Forces: (1) an initial mental health assessment; and (2) the mental health care services required to treat the member's urgent mental health care needs, including risk of suicide or harming others.

A former member of the Armed Forces is an individual who:

  • served in the active military, naval, or air service, was discharged or released under a condition less than honorable (except a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge), has applied for a character of service determination that has not yet been made, and is not otherwise eligible to enroll in the VA health care system by reason of such discharge or release; or
  • while serving in the Armed Forces, was deployed in a theater of combat operations or an area at a time during which hostilities occurred in that area, participated in or experienced such combat operations or hostilities (including by controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle from a location other than such theater or area), or was the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment.

The VA may provide such mental health care services at a non-VA facility if: (1) the receipt of mental health care services by an individual in VA facilities would be clinically inadvisable, or (2) VA facilities are not capable of furnishing such mental health care services to that individual economically because of geographical inaccessibility.

The VA shall: (1) seek to ensure that such mental health care services are furnished in a therapeutically appropriate setting, and (2) provide referral services to assist former members who are not eligible for such VA services in obtaining services from non-VA sources.

(Sec. 3) The VA shall establish a process by which an individual who was discharged from the Armed Forces can seek a VA determination as to whether the discharge was under a condition barring the individual from receiving a VA benefit. If the VA determines that the individual is so barred, the VA shall provide such individual with information regarding his or her ability to address such condition.

What just happenedNov 8, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6](R-CO)Sponsor
40 cosponsors25 D15 R
Read on Congress.gov
40cosponsors2committees18actions1related bills13subjects
  1. Nov 8, 2017IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  2. Nov 7, 2017FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Nov 7, 2017FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8550)

  4. Nov 7, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8550)

  5. Nov 7, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 918.

  6. Nov 7, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8550-8553)

  7. Nov 7, 2017FloorH30300

    Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. Nov 6, 2017CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 287.

  9. Nov 6, 2017CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-390.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  10. Nov 6, 2017Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-390.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  11. Jul 19, 2017Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  12. Jul 19, 2017Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  13. Apr 6, 2017Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

    Health Subcommittee
  14. Mar 29, 2017Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Health Subcommittee
  15. Mar 3, 2017Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Health Subcommittee
  16. Feb 7, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  17. Feb 7, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  18. Feb 7, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedNov 7, 201736

Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish to former members of the Armed Forces: (1) an initial mental health assessment; and (2) the mental health care services required to treat the member's urgent mental health care needs, including risk of suicide or harming others.

A former member of the Armed Forces is an individual who:

  • served in the active military, naval, or air service, was discharged or released under a condition less than honorable (except a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge), has applied for a character of service determination that has not yet been made, and is not otherwise eligible to enroll in the VA health care system by reason of such discharge or release; or
  • while serving in the Armed Forces, was deployed in a theater of combat operations or an area at a time during which hostilities occurred in that area, participated in or experienced such combat operations or hostilities (including by controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle from a location other than such theater or area), or was the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment.

The VA may provide such mental health care services at a non-VA facility if: (1) the receipt of mental health care services by an individual in VA facilities would be clinically inadvisable, or (2) VA facilities are not capable of furnishing such mental health care services to that individual economically because of geographical inaccessibility.

The VA shall: (1) seek to ensure that such mental health care services are furnished in a therapeutically appropriate setting, and (2) provide referral services to assist former members who are not eligible for such VA services in obtaining services from non-VA sources.

(Sec. 3) The VA shall establish a process by which an individual who was discharged from the Armed Forces can seek a VA determination as to whether the discharge was under a condition barring the individual from receiving a VA benefit. If the VA determines that the individual is so barred, the VA shall provide such individual with information regarding his or her ability to address such condition.

Reported to House with amendment(s)Nov 6, 201717

Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish to former members of the Armed Forces: (1) an initial mental health assessment; and (2) the mental health care services required to treat the member's urgent mental health care needs, including risk of suicide or harming others.

A former member of the Armed Forces is an individual who:

  • served in the active military, naval, or air service, was discharged or released under a condition less than honorable (except a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge), has applied for a character of service determination that has not yet been made, and is not otherwise eligible to enroll in the VA health care system by reason of such discharge or release; or
  • while serving in the Armed Forces, was deployed in a theater of combat operations or an area at a time during which hostilities occurred in that area, participated in or experienced such combat operations or hostilities (including by controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle from a location other than such theater or area), or was the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment.

The VA may provide such mental health care services at a non-VA facility if: (1) the receipt of mental health care services by an individual in VA facilities would be clinically inadvisable, or (2) VA facilities are not capable of furnishing such mental health care services to that individual economically because of geographical inaccessibility.

The VA shall: (1) seek to ensure that such mental health care services are furnished in a therapeutically appropriate setting, and (2) provide referral services to assist former members who are not eligible for such VA services in obtaining services from non-VA sources.

(Sec. 3) The bill extends through September 30, 2025, the current rates for fees on certain housing loans guaranteed by the VA.

(Sec. 4) The VA shall establish a process by which an individual who was discharged from the Armed Forces can seek a VA determination as to whether the discharge was under a condition barring the individual from receiving a VA benefit. If the VA determines that the individual is so barred, the VA shall provide such individual with information regarding his or her ability to address such condition.

Introduced in HouseFeb 7, 2017

Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish to former members of the Armed Forces: (1) an initial mental health assessment; and (2) the mental health care services required to treat the member's urgent mental health care needs, including risk of suicide or harming others.

A former member of the Armed Forces is an individual who:

  • served in the active military, naval, or air service, was discharged or released under a condition less than honorable (except a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge), has applied for a character of service determination that has not yet been made, and is not otherwise eligible to enroll in the VA health care system by reason of such discharge or release; or
  • while serving in the Armed Forces, was deployed in a theater of combat operations or an area at a time during which hostilities occurred in that area, participated in or experienced such combat operations or hostilities, or was the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment.

The VA may provide such mental health care services at a non-VA facility if: (1) the receipt of mental health care services by an individual in VA facilities would be clinically inadvisable, or (2) VA facilities are not capable of furnishing such mental health care services to that individual economically because of geographical inaccessibility.

The VA shall seek to enter into a contract with an independent nongovernmental entity to study the effect combat service has had on suicide rates and serious mental health issues among veterans.

Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act — Informed