U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) on Jan. 9 sponsored legislation aimed at providing United States military veterans with faster mental health care when they need it in an effort to combat rising rates of veteran suicides.
“I am proud to lead this initiative to help ensure more veterans dealing with mental health challenges have access to the timely care they need and deserve,” said Rep. Yakym.
The Sergeant Ted Grubbs Mental Healthcare for Disabled Veterans Act, H.R. 241, would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish hospital care, medical services, or extended care services for a mental disorder not later than five days after a covered veteran requests such care or services, according to the text of the bill.
H.R. 241 is named for retired U.S. Army Sgt. Ted Grubbs, a veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was diagnosed with service-connected complex post-traumatic stress disorder and complex traumatic brain injury after returning from duty.
In the wake of a mental health crisis Grubbs experienced in 2023 that required prompt, in-person follow-up appointments, he was told by the VA that the earliest in-person appointment it could offer was more than two months away, according to information provided by Rep. Yakym’s staff. Grubbs nearly ended his own life.
“America is the land of the free only because of brave veterans like Ted, and we owe it to them to make sure they get the help they need in a timely manner, especially when it comes to veterans experiencing a sudden mental health crisis,” said Rep. Yakym. “I am grateful that Ted spoke up.”
H.R. 241 has been referred to the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for consideration.