To view an archived webcast of the hearing, click here. To view a full list of witnesses and to read their prepared remarks, click here.
The panelists defended VA efforts and practices against the recent damaging OIG report which found, among other things, that the measurements used by VA to calculate wait times for mental health appointments lack accuracy and reliability. The report explicitly said that the measurements offered “no real value” and should be replaced. OIG also found that nearly half of veterans seeking a mental health episode of care waited approximately 50 days -- a figure in stark contrast to the 14-day standard VA has regularly promoted.
Much of the hearing focused on VA’s recent announcement that the agency would hire 1,900 new mental health staff -- 1,600 clinicians and 300 support staff -- to help overcome shortfalls across the country that currently prevent veterans from receiving timely care.
Unfortunately, The VFW believes many questions remain unanswered. VA does not yet have a true staffing model to ensure the mental health contingent within VA is right-sized or properly distributed across the system. Because of that, many committee members and other witnesses questioned the effectiveness of VA’s response, and whether or not 1,900 is the optimal number of new hires. Questions of how VA would pay for the additional staff were also raised, and VA’s response that they would be taking the money out of the dollars allocated to the VISNs did not seem to satisfy many on the committee.
Shinseki admitted that VA had much to do to resolve this problem, and made clear his belief that the problem could get worse in coming years as the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan draw to a close and more service members seek VA care. Dr. Petzel offered that VA needed to do more fee-basis mental health authorizations, and more mental health contracting with private providers, especially in rural areas. VA also discussed a new and ongoing peer counselor program in which VA is currently training 400 veterans to become peer counselors. Tele-mental health and the future deployment of an integrated electronic health record were also mentioned as facets of VA’s plan to address the need to provide more mental health treatment for our veterans.
In the midst of all these efforts, committee members and veterans’ advocates did not seem satisfied. As your voice on Capitol Hill, your VFW will continue to keep VA’s feet to the fire to improve the delivery of mental health care for our veterans. Check back regularly for updates.
