Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021

1/11/2023, 1:49 PM

Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during FY2022, to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans. The RANGE Program serves veterans in rural areas who are experiencing mental illness.

The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report on whether the VA has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy.

Congress
117

Number
S - 1468

Introduced on
2021-04-29

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

4/29/2021

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during FY2022, to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans. The RANGE Program serves veterans in rural areas who are experiencing mental illness.

The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report on whether the VA has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study to assess certain mental health care resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs available to veterans who live in rural areas.

Policy Areas
Armed Forces and National Security

Potential Impact
Congressional oversight
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Mental health
Rural conditions and development
Veterans' medical care

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary6/28/2021

Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during FY2022, to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancemen...


Latest Action4/29/2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.