President Signs Law Expanding MH Services for Veterans
Abstract
APA and veterans groups are pleased as the Clay Hunt SAV Act becomes law.
President Obama signed into law on February 12 the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, intended to reduce suicides and improve access to mental health care among veterans. The bill was passed unanimously by the House and Senate earlier this year after being held up on a technicality at the end of the last Congress.
President Obama signs the Clay Hunt SAV Act into law as First Lady Michelle Obama (right) and Clay Hunt’s mother, Susan Selke (far left), look on. The law provides incentives for psychiatrists to work in the Veterans Health Administration.
“Too many of our troops and veterans are still struggling, recovering from injuries and mourning fallen comrades,” said Obama in remarks at the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House. “For many of them the war goes on, and we will not be satisfied until every man and woman in uniform gets the help they need to stay strong and healthy. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help; it’s a sign of strength.”
The act was named for a U.S. Marine veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who died by suicide in 2011. Clay Hunt’s mother and stepfather, Susan and Richard Selke, and his father and stepmother, Stacy and Dianne Hunt, attended the White House ceremony. The Selkes were especially active in advocating for passage of the law.
APA strongly supported the legislation, noted CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. He attended the ceremony with APA President Paul Summergrad, M.D.
“APA is proud to have worked alongside veterans groups like the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to push for this new law,” said Levin. “We are committed to providing our veterans with the quality mental health care they deserve, and the Clay Hunt SAV Act is an important step forward in improving their access to care.”
Among other things, the legislation will establish a pilot project encouraging more psychiatrists to choose a career with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) by offering medical-school loan repayments on par with other government agencies and private practices. Current policy makes it difficult for the VHA to compete with employers that offer employment incentives, such as medical-school loan repayment.
The loan-repayment section of the Clay Hunt Act seeks to recruit at least 10 new psychiatrists each year over three years to fill vacant full-time positions in the VHA.
It also increases peer support and outreach for service members as they move into civilian life, extends eligibility for enrollment in mental health care services at the VHA by an additional year, and requires evaluation of mental health care and suicide-prevention practices.
“Today is a more hopeful day for America’s veterans,” Summergrad said after the signing ceremony. “The brave men and women who served our country have sacrificed so much for us, and the Clay Hunt SAV Act is one way we can begin to repay them by improving much-needed access to mental health care and to reduce the tragedy of veteran suicides.” ■
