Expanding Veteran Access to Timely Mental Health and Substance Use Care.
This bill expands veterans' access to mental health and substance-use residential treatment through the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). It ensures veterans can receive timely care from community providers if the VA cannot accommodate them or meet its own access standards promptly. The goal is to reduce wait times for critical services and give veterans more choice in their treatment options.
Key points
Veterans gain the right to seek community care for mental health or substance-use residential treatment if the VA cannot provide timely services or priority admission.
The VA must allow veterans to choose their preferred care option when multiple choices are available, and cannot prioritize internal VA referrals over timely community care.
Future changes to community care access standards by the VA must be approved by a joint resolution of Congress before taking effect.
Expired
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