WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HR 9433

VA Coaching into Care Act

119th Congress Introduced by Dan Goldman and 2 co-sponsors

The bill creates a VA pilot hotline offering mental health support to veterans’ families and friends, with licensed clinicians and referral paths.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9433

Overview

  • Bill: HR 9433
  • Session: 119th Congress
  • Title: VA Coaching into Care Act
  • Purpose (as stated in the bill): Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program that provides mental and behavioral health support to friends and families of veterans.

Main Objectives

  • Create a pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer mental and behavioral health support to eligible recipients who are not veterans themselves but are closely connected to a veteran (e.g., family members, residents with the veteran, or friends).

Key Provisions

  1. Pilot Program Establishment

    • A toll-free hotline program will be established within one year of enactment.
    • The hotline will provide access to licensed mental and behavioral health professionals.

  2. Providers and Services

    • Hotline staff must be VA employees hired specifically for the program.
    • Staff roles include giving:
      • Advice on how to discuss mental/behavioral health with a veteran.
      • Referrals to VA programs or non-VA entities that provide mental health services or resources.

  3. Outreach and Promotion

    • Outreach to veterans service organizations and other groups serving veterans, family members, or caregivers within:
      • 60 days of program establishment.
    • Public awareness materials (flyers, brochures, posters) must be available at VA Vet Centers or medical facilities within 90 days.
    • Program promoted on the VA’s publicly accessible website and through other VA outreach activities.

  4. Program Evaluation and Reporting

    • A comprehensive report due within 180 days after the program terminates (the program's end date is defined below).
    • Report elements include:
      • Hotline metrics: number of calls, average call-answer time, average call duration.
      • Referral data: types of referrals and counts.
      • Summary of actions to comply with outreach requirements.
      • Recommendations on feasibility, advisability of continuing/expanding the program, and needed authorities/resources to scale.

  5. Termination Date

    • The program automatically terminates three years after it is established.

  6. Definitions

    • “Eligible recipient”: includes a family member, a person residing with the veteran, or a friend.
    • “Family member”: includes a spouse, parent, dependent, or sibling.
    • “Vet Center”: defined as in 38 U.S.C. § 1712A.
    • “Veterans service organization”: defined as an organization recognized under 38 U.S.C. § 5902.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary: Friends and family members of veterans and individuals who live with a veteran or act as a caregiver.
  • VA personnel: VA employees would staff the hotline.
  • Veterans service organizations and other groups serving veterans and their families would engage in outreach and referral activities.

Timelines and Procedural Aspects

  • Enactment timing: Not explicitly dated beyond “not later than one year after enactment” to establish the pilot.
  • Pilot duration: Three-year duration from establishment.
  • Outreach and materials: Implemented within 60–90 days after establishment.
  • Evaluation: Final program assessment/report due within 180 days after termination.

Potential Impacts

  • Increased access to mental and behavioral health support for veterans’ networks, potentially reducing strain on caregivers and families.
  • Structured pathways to VA and non-VA mental health resources.
  • Measurable data on hotline usage and referral patterns to inform future policy decisions regarding expansion or replication.
  • Enhanced awareness of VA mental health resources among families and friends of veterans.

If you’d like, I can provide a one-page quick-read brief or a side-by-side comparison with related VA outreach programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.