Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2023
Impact
This legislation is critical in understanding the backdrop of veteran healthcare, particularly in the realm of mental health. It is intended to compile comprehensive data on veterans' deaths from all causes, including suicide, and will require the identification and evaluation of psychiatric medications prescribed during the relevant time frame. By evaluating the intersection of mental health treatment and suicide amongst veterans, the bill seeks to guide future practices and improve mental health outcomes for this vulnerable population. The findings from this review are expected to inform better policy decisions, ultimately benefiting veteran care nationwide.
Summary
House Bill 4400, officially titled the 'Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2023', mandates an independent review of veteran suicides conducted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs within 90 days of the bill's enactment. This review will focus on veterans who died by suicide over a five-year window prior to the enactment date, assessing a variety of data that could shed light on the factors contributing to these deaths. The bill aims to address ongoing concerns about veteran suicide rates by increasing scrutiny on the mental health care provided to veterans, particularly regarding medication management.
Contention
The bill may bring to the forefront debates about the quality and accessibility of mental health services within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Critics may argue that without addressing the underlying systemic issues faced by veterans, such as overwhelming bureaucracy and underfunding of mental health services, this review may not lead to substantive change. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding the balance of medication use in treating mental health conditions and the implications of potentially excessive prescriptions contributing to heightened risks of suicide. Advocates for veterans' health hope the review will change these dynamics and facilitate better treatment protocols.
Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to report on the deaths of covered veterans who died by suicide during the last five years, regardless of whether information relating to such deaths has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A covered veteran is any veteran who received VA hospital care or medical services during the five-year period preceding the veteran's death.Among other elements, the report shall include the total number of covered veterans who died by suicide, violent death, or accidental death, as well as certain demographic information.
Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to high-need local educational agencies, high-need schools, and local governments to establish, expand, or support school-based mentoring programs that assist at-risk students in developing cognitive skills and promoting social-emotional learning to prepare them for success in high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce. Additionally, the bill directs the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct a study to identify successful school-based mentoring programs and evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program established by this bill.
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional activities, resources, and data collection with respect to English learners, and for other purposes.