Bill would open Vet Centers to active troops

[unhappycamper]

Bill would open Vet Centers to active troops
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday May 2, 2008 13:17:01 EDT

Active and reserve service members would be eligible for mental health counseling from one of the 207 veterans’ centers operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs under bipartisan legislation introduced Thursday.

The bill also includes incentives for veterans to become mental health specialists so they could serve as counselors.

The bill would extend military survivor benefits in cases of suicide among service members with a history of service-connected mental health problems, an unprecedented policy change that would extend active-duty survivor benefits beyond the end of service for those who are not receiving retired pay.

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., joined by six other senators including Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, said he is looking for a quick way to increase access to qualified behavioral health specialists who can provide both immediate treatment and, if needed, long-term care.

Vet Centers, which provide readjustment and mental health counseling for people no longer in the military, are not typically available for use by people on active duty, nor to their families. National Guard and reserve members may use Vet Centers after being demobilized but sometimes have problems with eligibility because they do not have the same discharge papers provided to people separated from active duty.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/military_vetcenters_050208w/



uhc comment: That's great, but where do active and reserve duty members get into the line for Veterans Administration services? Before a veteran with traumatic amputation or PTSD or TBI? After?