Bill > HR136

This bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to commission the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a comprehensive, independent review of veteran suicides over a five-year period. The review will meticulously examine the deaths of veterans who received VA healthcare, analyzing detailed data including total suicide numbers, violent and accidental deaths, demographic information, prescribed medications, medical diagnoses, treatment approaches, and medication patterns. Specific areas of investigation include the number of veterans on multiple medications, instances of off-label drug use, black box warning medications, non-medication treatment attempts, mental health professional staffing challenges, and collaboration with state healthcare agencies. The National Academies must complete this review within 180 days, producing a report that will be submitted to Congressional veterans' affairs committees and made publicly available. The bill aims to identify patterns, understand potential contributing factors to veteran suicide, and provide recommendations to improve veteran safety and wellbeing. The review will cover veterans who received VA healthcare during the specified period, with a focus on understanding medication practices, mental health treatment approaches, and systemic factors that might impact veteran mental health and suicide rates.

Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/136/all-info