H.R. 2229: No Veteran Falls Through the Cracks Act

This bill, known as the No Veteran Falls Through the Cracks Act, aims to enhance the process by which veterans can schedule and reschedule their mental health care appointments at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The main focus of the bill includes the following points:

Appointment Rescheduling

If a veteran cancels a mental health care appointment, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to actively seek to reschedule that appointment. This applies to any cancellation method the veteran may use. The process includes:

• The Secretary must first contact the veteran by telephone to propose rescheduling the cancelled appointment.
• If the veteran does not reschedule the appointment during this initial call, the Secretary is required to make at least one additional telephone contact to the veteran for the same purpose.

Definition of Covered Veteran

The bill defines a "covered veteran" as a veteran who is enrolled in the VA's patient enrollment system, specifically under the provisions set out in section 1705(a) of title 38 of the United States Code. This means that only veterans who are officially registered in this system are eligible for the benefits outlined in this act regarding appointment scheduling.

Objectives of the Bill

The primary objective of this legislation is to ensure that veterans do not miss out on necessary mental health services due to difficulties in scheduling or rescheduling their appointments. By requiring follow-up actions from the VA after cancellations, the bill aims to improve access to mental health resources for those who have served in the military.

Implementation and Oversight

The bill calls for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take proactive steps in implementing these scheduling improvements, which may involve increased communication and possibly additional administrative resources to handle appointment rescheduling effectively.

Conclusion

Overall, the No Veteran Falls Through the Cracks Act seeks to streamline the process for veterans in accessing their mental health care by ensuring that appointment cancellations do not lead to unaddressed needs.

Relevant Companies

None found