Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021
Jun 30, 2021
Statute: 135 Stat. 292
Became law: Jun 30, 2021
Jun 30, 2021
Statute: 135 Stat. 292
Became law: Jun 30, 2021
Summary
Adds more mental health centers for veterans in the countryside and orders a study to see if the government is doing enough to help them.
What problem does this solve?
Veterans in rural areas often lack access to needed mental health services. This law adds three new mental health centers and requires a study to find more ways to improve care for these veterans.
What does this law do?
Expands the RANGE Program
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create and run three new centers for the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program.
Requires a study on mental health care
Orders the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study if the Department of Veterans Affairs has enough resources to provide mental health care to rural veterans.
Authorizes funding for new centers
Approves $1.2 million for each of the fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024 to pay for the new RANGE Program centers.
Sets criteria for new center locations
Requires the new centers to be placed in areas where there is a high need for mental health care for rural veterans and where local VA staff are interested in hosting them.
Study to assess veteran deaths
The required study will check how many rural veterans died by suicide or overdose while on a waitlist for mental health care.
Who does this affect?
- Rural veterans
What is the real world impact?
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Improves mental health support for rural veterans
Provides more resources for veterans in areas where mental health care is hard to find, aiming to reduce wait times and improve outcomes.
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Gathers data to guide future policy
Requires a detailed study to understand the gaps in the VA's mental health services for rural veterans, which will help lawmakers make better decisions in the future.
When does this start?
This law takes effect on June 30, 2021, and includes specific deadlines for actions.
Establishment of new centers
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must establish the three new RANGE Program centers during fiscal year 2022.