Stivers introduces bipartisan bill to ensure inpatient psychiatric care is always available to veterans

Bipartisan legislation reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) would ensure that veterans who seek inpatient care at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility are never turned away.

Stivers and U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) reintroduced the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act, which was named for a veteran from Davenport, Iowa, who took his own life after being denied psychiatric care at a VA facility.

“We face a devastating mental health crisis in this country, one that has particularly affected our veterans’ community,” Stivers said. “We owe it to our veterans to ensure they receive the care they need when they return home. I am proud to join Rep. Loebsack in reintroducing this legislation because no veteran should ever be turned away when asking for in-patient psychiatric care.”

Under the measure, when a veteran is enrolled in the VA health care system and requests to be admitted for in-patient psychiatric care at a VA Medical Center, the VA must provide that care. The VA would be required to find care for veterans at non-VA facilities when beds or providers for in-patient psychiatric care are unavailable.

“I am proud to reintroduce the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act to ensure no veteran in crisis is ever turned away,” Loebsack said. “Our veterans have sacrificed too much to ever feel alone when struggling with mental health issues. When these veterans reach out, we as a country owe it to them to answer their call. I am proud to help honor Sgt. Ketchum’s life by working to ensure our veterans get the care they are seeking.”