ICYMI: Murray visits VA Puget Sound, discusses expansion in veterans’ health care benefits
Senator Murray presses VA on long wait times for mental health appointments at VA Puget Sound: “What is the VA doing to ensure that veterans who are experiencing a mental health crisis access the care they need, when they need it?”
***RELOJ: Senator Murray at hearing on veterans’ mental health***
Washington DC – Today, at a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on improving mental health and suicide prevention measures for our nation’s veterans, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the committee, questioned witnesses from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veterans Health Administration about what VA is doing to improve mental health care for veterans in Washington state. Murray pressed witnesses specifically on what steps VA is taking to reach and assist veterans experiencing homelessness, cut down on wait times for mental health care, and help survivors of military sexual trauma.
“The fact that nearly a third of women veterans experience sexual assault or harassment while serving our country in uniform is really staggering,” Dijo el senador Murray. “And unsurprisingly, we know that military sexual trauma is a significant cause of mental health issues for these women. In fact, women who are survivors of military sexual trauma are nine times more likely to develop PTSD than other women veterans.”
Murray noted that a 2018 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) directive requires all VA facilities to have a designated coordinator to help veteran survivors of military sexual trauma access mental health care and other resources. However, VA Puget Sound in Washington state—which treats more than 65,000 veterans—does not have a full-time person in this position, which is notable for a facility of that size.
“What steps is VA taking to make sure that all VA facilities, including Puget Sound VA, have enough resources to assist and reach out to survivors of military sexual trauma?,” Murray asked Dr. Matthew Miller, Executive Director for Suicide Prevention at the Veterans Health Administration.
“I agree with you 100 percent… addressing military sexual trauma is critically important and a key component of suicide prevention,” Dr. Miller said. “We, at the national level, have a policy in place, [and] requirements at the local level regarding the very points of contact that you mentioned. We receive regular reports on a quarterly basis regarding staffing, and then we work with local facilities.” Murrayasked Dr. Miller specifically whether Puget Sound VA was going to get a full-time coordinator, to which Dr. Miller responded that VA Puget Sound would be getting outreach from VA about their staffing plan in the coming months.
Next, Murray asked about efforts to reach and help veterans experiencing homelessness—who are also at increased risk of mental health crises. “There are about 33,000 veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S., 1,500 of them in my state. Veterans who have experienced homelessness are nearly four times more likely than other veterans to attempt suicide—and I know VA has made progress in reducing the number of veterans who lack housing, but we also need to make sure that we are utilizing our knowledge of risk factors and engaging with these veterans to help prevent them from experiencing homelessness in the first place,” Murray dijo. “What is the VA doing right now to reach out to veterans who are experiencing homelessness and provide them with the mental health services that they need?”
“What we’ve learned is that veterans are at the highest risk for suicide 30 to 60 days prior to homelessness status, or losing their home—so, a big part of the issue for us is identifying veterans who are at high risk,” Dr. Miller responded. Murray then pressed Dr. Miller about how VA identifies the veterans who are at high risk, and whether appropriate monitoring is taking place.
“It’s happening… I don’t think that it’s perfect because it’s very difficult to identify 100 percent who’s at risk within 30 to 60 days,” Dr. Miller replied. “We had a situation that we faced this week where I assisted, along with some other colleagues, a veteran and his spouse who found out within five days that they were losing their home. We put them in direct contact with resources and assistance, but the timing can be very short. There [are] areas for improvement there, and we’re committed to working on them.”
Finally, Murray noted that Congress and VA have put a lot of effort into reaching out to veterans with the message that it is okay for them to ask for help—that when they are feeling alone, there are people they can talk to and resources available to them. “So, it is really concerning to see on the VA’s website that the wait time for a mental health appointment at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center is over a month long. I have personally had veterans tell me that they’ve had to wait as long as 3 months just to get an appointment in their community,” Murray dijo.
“I know it’s challenging, I know it’s complicated, but what is the VA doing to ensure that veterans who are experiencing a mental health crisis access the care they need, when they need it?,” Preguntó Murray.
“Same-day access is the first step that should be in place at every local facility,” Dr. Miller responded. “Following same-day access, attending to staffing, and ensuring that staffing can accommodate the demand.”
“Okay, but it’s not happening—so what do we do?” Preguntó Murray.
“From a national level… we offer consultation to the local level, regarding where they’re seeing barriers, where they’re seeing impediments to access, and assisting them with constructing a plan—an action plan—for following through and making improvements,” Dr. Miller said. Finally, Senator Murray asked Dr. Miller if he would follow up with VA Puget Sound about how to reduce wait times for mental health appointments. “Absolutely,” Dr. Miller replied.
As the daughter of a World War II veteran and the first woman to lead the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Murray takes seriously her responsibility as a voice for Washington state’s veterans in the U.S. Senate and has fought consistently over the years to make sure our nation fulfills its promise to veterans and their families. This year, as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA), Senator Murray wrote and passed through committee the MilCon-VA appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024, which boosts funding for veterans’ mental health care by $2.3 billion and includes $559 million for suicide prevention outreach. The legislation also boosts funding for veterans’ homelessness prevention and women’s health care initiatives.
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