Background:

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, signed into law last year, included many important provisions that WWP had been advocating for. Click here for more information.

However, one key provision, related to mental health care access and Department of Veterans’ Affairs Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Programs (RRTPs), was dropped from the bill with the agreement to revisit the issue in 2025.

This year, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-12-IL) and Senate Veterans Affairs’ Committee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) have introduced identical legislation, the Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansion to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act (S. 275 and H.R. 740) to address the issue of RRTPs.

What Would the Bill Do?

The Veterans’ ACCESS Act aims to improve veterans’ access to RRTPs and mandates improvements in their operations, coordination, and oversight. Among its provisions, the bill would:

• Require VA to establish a standardized screening process to determine, based on clinical need, if a veteran meets criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health RRTP;

• Ensure veterans are screened for mental health RRTPs within 48 hours of when admittance is requested from the veteran or their provider;

• Mandate VA admit veterans deemed eligible for priority admission to a mental health RRTP within 48 hours of determination of their priority status;

• Require VA to consider input from veterans regarding where they are placed and the treatment they receive; and

• Require VA to offer community-based care if a veteran qualifies for admission to a mental health RRTP but cannot be admitted under existing access standards.

How can you help?

Write to your U.S. Senators and Representative using the message on this page. They DO read these emails, and your voice DOES make a difference. To send this message, simply fill out your information. It will automatically identify your elected officials and their contact information.

However, you are STRONGLY encouraged to personalize your message with your own stories or those of veterans you know to make an even greater impact. For example, if you’re a veteran, a caregiver, or simply a supporter of veterans, explain your connection and how the bill might help you or someone you know!