Bill > HR271

This bill, known as the Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery Act or COVER Act, establishes a Veterans Expedited Recovery Commission to study how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) treats mental health conditions in veterans. The commission will examine the current evidence-based therapy model used by the VA, investigate the potential benefits of incorporating complementary alternative treatments (like music therapy, equine therapy, yoga, acupuncture, and meditation) available outside the VA, and assess if there's an increase in mental health claims from veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn. After the commission completes its study and submits a final report with recommendations, the VA will be required to present an action plan for implementing these recommendations, including a timeline for incorporating alternative treatments, or provide a detailed justification if any recommendation is deemed inappropriate, along with an alternative solution to improve the effectiveness of the current therapy model.