PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Provisions of measure incorporated into measure S. 1182, as amended, ordered to be reported.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 7, 2005
Veterans Mental Health Care Capacity Enhancement Act of 2005 - Requires the Under Secretary for Health for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include as goals in performance contracts for prioritizing mental health services to veterans: (1) establishing appropriate staff-patient ratio levels; (2) fostering collaborative environments for providers; and (3) encouraging clinicians to conduct mental health consultations during primary care visits.
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that not less than 90 percent of Department community-based outpatient clinics have the capacity to provide on-site, contract-referral, or tele-mental health services for at least: (1) ten percent of all clinic visits by no later than September 30, 2006; and (2) 15 percent of all clinic visits by no later than September 30, 2007.
Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to enter into a memorandum of understanding to ensure interdepartmental cooperation on mental health awareness and mental illness prevention.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Requires the Under Secretary to establish system-wide guidelines for screening primary care patients for mental health disorders and illnesses.
People & committees
Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D–HI
Legislative record
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Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Provisions of measure incorporated into measure S. 1182, as amended, ordered to be reported.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-217.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6158-6159)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6157-6158)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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