VA would offer yearly mental health consultations to eligible veterans

VA would offer mental health consultations and contact covered veterans about available services. This would cover veterans receiving VA disability payments for a mental health condition connected to their military service. Veterans would receive an offer of a consultation; they would not be required to attend. VA would make the offers and conduct outreach at least once each year.

VA would run a pilot program providing access to residential mental health treatment. The pilot would serve veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder. The pilot would operate at at least three VA medical facilities. VA would submit a plan within 60 days of enactment and start the pilot within 120 days of enactment.

VA would begin adjusting its REACH VET program to account for risk factors weighted for women. The work would address risk factors for women veterans, including military sexual trauma and abuse by an intimate partner. The deadline would require VA to begin the work, rather than finish the adjustments. VA would have to initiate these efforts within 60 days of enactment.

VA could temporarily waive a mental health counselor's license or certification requirement. This provision would apply to individual professional mental health counselors appointed by VA. The waiver would be optional. It would last for a reasonable period recommended by the Under Secretary for Health.

VA would give Vet Centers local population data and guidance for checking their outreach. VA would also regularly assess barriers that eligible veterans, service members, and center staff face in obtaining or providing services. The population data would concern people eligible for services in each center's service area. VA would have to carry out these requirements within 180 days of enactment.