Central Missouri News

Congressman Mark Alford of Missouri's 4th District has joined forces with other lawmakers to address concerns over the scheduling system for veteran mental health appointments. The bipartisan initiative was led by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland from Washington's 10th District. They have sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough, urging improvements in this area.

"We owe a deep debt of gratitude to our veterans for their selfless service to this nation. They deserve top notch care and full access to the mental health services they have earned. The VA’s systemic issues with mental health appointment cancellations needs to be addressed immediately. The VA must do better, period," stated Congressman Alford.

The push for change follows an article from Military.com that highlighted ongoing issues with scheduling and staffing at the VA. The lawmakers' letter expresses significant concern over these problems, emphasizing the impact on veterans who are in urgent need of mental health support.

The letter notes that "Veterans who take the step to schedule behavioral health care are often doing so because they are in critical need of support." However, many face long waits or unavailable appointments, with some being canceled or rescheduled without notice. From 2020 through 2023, VA data showed an average cancellation rate of 10.6% for mental health appointments.

Additionally, a report from the VA Inspector General found that as of September 2024, 66 out of 140 VA health systems were experiencing severe shortages of psychiatric providers. These issues exacerbate existing conditions and hinder treatment effectiveness, contributing to suicide risks among veterans.

The letter calls for immediate action from the VA in three key areas: improving recruitment and retention programs for mental health professionals, streamlining appointment management systems, and ensuring continuity of care across all regions.

According to feedback from constituents and the Military.com article, some veterans reported being informed about no-show appointments they never scheduled or having been told they canceled when they hadn't. The letter questions how the VA is addressing these discrepancies.

It also references Dr. Shereef Elnahal's acknowledgment that the VA is not meeting evidence-based staffing levels at medical centers. The lawmakers seek clarity on strategies and timelines to reach these levels and address regional disparities in care access.

Finally, they inquire about how the MISSION ACT is being utilized to ensure timely mental health services through community care providers due to high cancellation rates and provider shortages within the VA.

The legislators urge swift action from the Department of Veterans Affairs to resolve these systemic issues and provide reliable mental health care for veterans nationwide.