H.R. 10648House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Veterans’ Mental Health Access Act

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish inpatient treatment under the Veterans Community Care Program for a mental health condition, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated October 6, 2026 at 7:21 AM UTC

The Veterans' Mental Health Access Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide inpatient mental‑health treatment—such as care for PTSD, depression, or substance‑abuse disorders—through the Veterans Community Care Program. It sets a rapid‑response deadline and requires regular reporting on how long veterans wait for this care. The bill mainly affects veterans who qualify for VA health benefits and need inpatient mental‑health services.

Key Provisions

The VA must furnish covered inpatient mental‑health care to a veteran within 24 hours after the veteran requests it or a health‑care provider prescribes it.
The Secretary must publish a report every six months on the VA website showing wait times for veterans receiving inpatient mental‑health care at VA medical centers or through the Community Care Program.
The bill defines “covered care” as inpatient treatment for mental‑health conditions, “covered veteran” as a veteran eligible under existing VA law, and “covered facility” as the nearest VA medical center or hospital that provides the care.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

October 14, 2026

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 1, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

October 1, 2026

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

October 14, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued October 1, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10648

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 1, 2026

Ms. Boebert introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish inpatient treatment under the Veterans Community Care Program for a mental health condition, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans’ Mental Health Access Act.

Furnishing of inpatient treatment for a mental health condition under the Veterans Community Care Program

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall furnish covered care to a covered veteran.

(b)

Timeline

The Secretary shall furnish covered care under subsection (a) not later than 24 hours after the covered veteran requests covered care or a health care provider prescribes covered care to the covered veteran.

(c)

Report

Every six months, the Secretary shall publish on a website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a report regarding the wait time for a veteran seeking covered care furnished—

(1)

in a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs; or

(2)

under the Veterans Community Care Program.

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term covered care means inpatient treatment for a mental health condition, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or substance abuse, furnished—

(A)

in a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs; or

(B)

under the Veterans Community Care Program.

(2)

The term covered facility means, with respect to a covered veteran, the medical center or hospital of the Department of Veterans Affairs—

(A)

that is closest to the residence of the covered veteran; and

(B)

where the Secretary furnishes covered care sought by the covered veteran.

(3)

The term covered veteran means a veteran described in section 1703(b) of title 38, United States Code.

(4)

The term Veterans Community Care Program means the program established by section 1703(a) of title 38, United States Code.