Report Critical of VA Mental Health Care
The Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General (IG) released a critical report
that contradicts VA claims that 95 percent of new patients seeking
mental health services received full evaluations for care within the
required 14 day period. According to the report, only 49 percent of
these veterans were seen within 14 days, and the average wait time was
50 days. The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC) discussed the
report during a hearing last week and SVAC Chairwoman Patty Murray
(Wash.)
called the findings deeply disturbing and directed the VA to revamp its
scheduling system and get serious about hiring mental health
professionals.
Click here
for a copy of the IG report.
As previously reported,
the VA is adding approximately 1,600 mental health
clinicians and nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce to
meet the growing needs of service members returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan. Since 2007, VA has seen a 35 percent increase in the number
of veterans receiving mental health services, and a 41 percent increase
in mental health staff. Improved access to care for all veterans,
including those who bear the invisible scars of service, is a top FRA
priority and was referenced in recent congressional testimony before the
House and Senate VA Committees.
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