Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act

Bill Number: H.R. 2426
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Armed Forces and National Security
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-01-13: Subcommittee Hearings Held
Last Updated: 2026-07-08T16:38:40Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation, titled the "Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act," aims to evaluate and compare the quality of mental health and addiction therapy services provided to veterans by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care providers versus those outside the VA. This study seeks to identify differences in care quality across various treatment formats to inform potential improvements in veteran support.

Key Provisions

Commissioning the Study: Within 90 days of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must partner with an independent, objective organization (not affiliated with the VA) to conduct the study.
Scope of the Study: The study will examine differences in care quality for mental health and addiction therapy under VA-administered laws, covering modalities such as telehealth (remote care), inpatient (hospital-based), intensive outpatient (frequent non-hospital visits), outpatient (standard non-hospital visits), and residential treatment (live-in programs).
Report Requirements: The organization must submit a report with study results to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs and publish it on a public website. The entire process, from agreement to report completion, must occur within 18 months.
Report Elements: The report must assess:
Improvements in health outcomes from treatment start to end, including symptom levels and suicide risk (using tools like the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, a standard questionnaire for assessing suicide risk).
Use of evidence-based practices (proven, research-supported methods) by VA and non-VA providers, including standards from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (a professional group setting addiction treatment guidelines).
Gaps in coordination between VA and non-VA providers, such as sharing patient health records.
Veteran-centric care, including patient satisfaction and providers' understanding of military and veteran-specific needs.
Integrated care for veterans with co-occurring conditions (multiple health issues at once) to address needs holistically (comprehensively).
Ongoing monitoring of health outcomes during treatment and for up to three years afterward.
Average time to start services, comparing the delay from initial contact to first treatment session.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new mandate for an independent study on VA versus non-VA care quality in mental health and addiction therapy, which does not appear to exist in current law. It requires the VA to act quickly (within 90 days) and ensures public transparency through a website publication, potentially setting a precedent for future VA accountability measures.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: The VA will need to allocate resources to select and fund the independent organization, potentially leading to internal reviews or policy adjustments based on study findings.
On Citizens (Veterans): Could highlight strengths or weaknesses in care options, helping veterans access better-suited treatments and possibly reducing wait times or improving outcomes for mental health and addiction issues.
On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses solely on domestic VA services for U.S. veterans.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Veterans: Primary beneficiaries, as the study targets improvements in their mental health and addiction care.
VA Health Care Providers: Subject to evaluation, which may influence training, practices, or funding.
Non-VA Providers: Community-based doctors and facilities that treat veterans through VA referrals, potentially facing scrutiny or new collaboration requirements.
Congressional Committees: Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees will receive the report, using it to guide oversight and future legislation.
Independent Research Organizations: Eligible to conduct the study, gaining opportunities for funded work on veteran health.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: The bill reinforces VA accountability under existing veterans' health laws by mandating an external, objective review, which could support future lawsuits or reforms if gaps are found (e.g., in record-sharing). No new enforcement mechanisms are added.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to oversee federal agencies like the VA; no apparent conflicts with rights such as privacy, as the study focuses on aggregate care quality rather than individual data.
Political: Addresses a high-priority issue—veteran suicide and addiction—potentially building bipartisan support (introduced by members from both parties). Findings could influence VA budgets or expand community care programs, but it avoids direct mandates for change, keeping it non-controversial.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

Recent Actions

2026-01-13: Subcommittee Hearings Held
2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2025-03-27: Introduced in House
2025-03-27: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (4 pages)