Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Cornyn have introduced the Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act. This legislation aims to ensure that veterans receive high-quality mental health care by mandating an independent organization to evaluate the quality of care provided both within and outside the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Dr. Cassidy emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Every veteran must receive the care and services they need to address the risk of suicide and addiction. There is no room for failure.” Senator Cornyn echoed this sentiment, noting, “The brave men and women who served our nation should never be denied access to the high-quality care they deserve.”

The bill has garnered bipartisan support with co-sponsors including Senators Maggie Hassan, Michael Bennet, Susan Collins, Gary Peters, John Fetterman, and Thom Tillis.

The VA operates the largest integrated health care system in the country for military veterans. However, reports suggest that a significant portion of VA-eligible veterans seek treatment from external providers. This raises concerns about whether these veterans are receiving adequate mental health and addiction services.

To address these concerns, the proposed legislation calls for an independent study to assess current practices in delivering mental health care to veterans.

Organizations such as the Disabled American Veterans Association, the American Psychological Association, and the Veteran Health Care Policy Initiative have expressed their support for this legislative effort.