Improving Mental Health Care for Veterans Act of 2020

II 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 3210 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Sec- retary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to develop a clinical practice guideline or guidelines for the treatment of serious mental illness. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JANUARY 16, 2020 Mr. CASSIDY (for himself and Ms. SINEMA) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to develop a clinical prac- tice guideline or guidelines for the treatment of serious mental illness. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Mental 4 Health Care for Veterans Act of 2020’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:28 Jan 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3210.IS S3210 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 3210 IS SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 1 AFFAIRS AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF 2 CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR THE 3 TREATMENT OF SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. 4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 5 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet- 6 erans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of De- 7 fense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 8 shall complete the development of a clinical practice guide- 9 line or guidelines for the treatment of serious mental ill- 10 ness, to include the following conditions: 11 (1) Schizophrenia. 12 (2) Schizoaffective disorder. 13 (3) Persistent mood disorder, including bipolar 14 disorder I and II. 15 (4) Any other mental, behavioral, or emotional 16 disorder resulting in serious functional impairment 17 that substantially interferes with major life activities 18 as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation 19 with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 20 Health and Human Services, considers appropriate. 21 (b) MATTERS INCLUDED IN GUIDELINES.—The clin- 22 ical practice guideline or guidelines developed under sub- 23 section (a) shall include the following: 24 (1) Guidance contained in the 2016 Clinical 25 Practice Guidelines for the Management of Major 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:28 Jan 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3210.IS S3210 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 3210 IS Depressive Disorders of the Department of Veterans 1 Affairs and the Department of Defense. 2 (2) Guidance with respect to the treatment of 3 patients with a condition described in subsection (a). 4 (3) A list of evidence-based therapies for the 5 treatment of conditions described in subsection (a). 6 (4) An appropriate guideline for the administra- 7 tion of pharmacological therapy, psychological or be- 8 havioral therapy, or other therapy for the manage- 9 ment of conditions described in subsection (a). 10 (c) ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING GUIDELINES.—Not 11 later than two years after the date of the enactment of 12 this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation 13 with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health 14 and Human Services, shall complete an assessment of the 15 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of 16 Major Depressive Disorders to determine whether an up- 17 date to such guidelines is necessary. 18 (d) WORK GROUP.— 19 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Vet- 20 erans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and the Sec- 21 retary of Health and Human Services shall create a 22 work group to develop the clinical practice guideline 23 or guidelines under subsection (a) to be known as 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:28 Jan 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3210.IS S3210 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 3210 IS the ‘‘Serious Mental Illness Work Group’’ (in this 1 subsection referred to as the ‘‘Work Group’’). 2 (2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Work Group created 3 under paragraph (1) shall be comprised of individ- 4 uals that represent Federal Government entities and 5 non-Federal Government entities with expertise in 6 the areas covered by the Work Group, including the 7 following entities: 8 (A) Academic institutions that specialize in 9 research for the treatment of conditions de- 10 scribed in subsection (a). 11 (B) The Health Services Research and De- 12 velopment Service of the Department of Vet- 13 erans Affairs. 14 (C) The Office of the Assistant Secretary 15 for Mental Health and Substance Use of the 16 Department of Health and Human Services. 17 (D) The National Institute of Mental 18 Health. 19 (E) The Indian Health Service. 20 (F) Relevant organizations with expertise 21 in researching, diagnosing, or treating condi- 22 tions described in subsection (a). 23 (3) RELATION TO OTHER WORK GROUPS.—The 24 Work Group shall be created and conducted in the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:28 Jan 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3210.IS S3210 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •S 3210 IS same manner as other work groups for the develop- 1 ment of clinical practice guidelines for the Depart- 2 ment of Veterans Affairs and the Department of De- 3 fense. 4 (e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec- 5 tion shall be construed to prevent the Secretary of Vet- 6 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense from consid- 7 ering all relevant evidence, as appropriate, in creating the 8 clinical practice guideline or guidelines required under 9 subsection (a) or from ensuring that the final clinical prac- 10 tice guideline or guidelines developed under such sub- 11 section and subsequently updated, as appropriate, remain 12 applicable to the patient populations of the Department 13 of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:28 Jan 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S3210.IS S3210 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS