Mental Health Care Provider Retention Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5611
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-15: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Last Updated
- 2025-11-17T16:29:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Mental Health Care Provider Retention Act of 2025 (H.R. 5611)
Purpose
This legislation aims to support individuals transitioning from mental health treatment provided by the Department of Defense (DoD) to treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by allowing them to continue seeing their existing DoD mental health provider. The goal is to ensure continuity of care for those with diagnosed mental health conditions during this shift, reducing disruptions in treatment.
Key Provisions
- Election to Continue Care: A "covered individual" (someone diagnosed with a mental health condition who is enrolling or has enrolled in the VA's patient system and is transitioning from DoD care) may choose to keep receiving treatment from their current DoD mental health provider at a military medical facility.
- Priority Level: These individuals receive the same priority for care as active-duty members of the Armed Forces at the chosen facility.
- Reimbursement: The VA must pay the DoD for any services provided under this arrangement that would normally be covered by the VA.
- Provider Departure Options: If the DoD provider leaves the facility, the individual can switch to another provider at the same facility or transition to a VA provider.
- Individual Relocation: If the person moves and can no longer reasonably access the DoD facility, they must switch to a VA provider.
- Medical Records Transfer: DoD providers must send copies of relevant medical records to the VA for inclusion in the individual's electronic health record once they fully transition to VA care.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new authorization for continuity of mental health care during the DoD-to-VA transition, which was not explicitly allowed before. It mandates reimbursement between agencies and ensures seamless record sharing, addressing gaps in current laws like 38 U.S.C. § 1705 (VA patient enrollment) by prioritizing mental health continuity for transitioning individuals.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances coordination between DoD and VA, potentially increasing administrative workload for record transfers and billing. The VA may face higher costs from reimbursing DoD services.
- On Citizens: Improves access to consistent mental health treatment for transitioning service members and veterans, potentially leading to better mental health outcomes and reduced treatment interruptions.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic policy focused on U.S. military and veteran care.
Main Stakeholders
- Transitioning Service Members and Veterans: Those with mental health diagnoses moving from active-duty DoD care to VA benefits.
- Department of Defense (DoD): Mental health providers and military medical facilities involved in continued care and record submission.
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Handles enrollment, reimbursement, and eventual full transition of care.
- Congressional Committees: Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs committees, which oversee referral and implementation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens inter-agency collaboration under federal health laws, ensuring compliance with electronic health record standards without creating new privacy risks (as records are already shared in transitions).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over military and veteran affairs (Article I, Section 8), promoting welfare for those who served.
- Political: Signals bipartisan support for veteran mental health, potentially influencing future budgets for DoD-VA integration amid ongoing concerns about veteran suicide and care access; no major controversies noted in the bill text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-15: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2025-09-26: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-26: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Mental Health Care Provider Retention Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-26 — PDF (4 pages)