U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has cosponsored three bills aimed at improving care for veterans in the United States. The legislation includes the Veterans’ ACCESS Act, the TAP Promotion Act, and the Written Informed Consent Act.
“The patriots who have put their lives on the line to serve our country deserve competent care, not bureaucratic red tape and systems that ignore their unique needs,” said Senator Mike Lee. “I’m proud to cosponsor legislation to improve efficiency in VA systems so that our veterans are heard and helped in the ways they need. These bills will prioritize veterans’ voices, help with burdensome paperwork, and ensure patients are well informed about potential medication side effects. These changes will get our veterans the competent, efficient care they’ve earned.”
The Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act would make existing community care access standards a baseline for veterans seeking treatment outside of VA facilities. It also seeks to expand access to treatment programs for mental health and addiction issues among veterans. The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to consider veteran preference and continuity of care when deciding whether a veteran should be referred for community-based services.
Service members transitioning out of military service often face complex processes when applying for benefits, which can result in delays for disability payments and healthcare appointments. The TAP Promotion Act aims to address these challenges by allowing accredited members of Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and similar groups to assist during Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes. This change would enable service members to receive help filing claims and completing medical evaluations before leaving military service.
Veterans using VA healthcare are prescribed an average of nearly 30 medications per year, with over half receiving duplicate prescriptions. Some medications can increase suicide risk when combined. Veteran suicide rates have risen significantly since 2001. During the first Trump Administration, written informed consent was required for long-term opioid prescriptions; this contributed to a decrease in opioid use among veterans by 2023 compared to previous years.
The Written Informed Consent Act expands this policy by requiring signed consent forms from veterans before prescribing antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics, or narcotics. This measure is intended to ensure that veterans are fully informed about potential side effects associated with these medications.
Senator Mike Lee represents Utah in the U.S. Senate and maintains offices throughout Utah as well as Washington, D.C., offering constituent services including communication on federal matters (official website). He advocates for limited government, fiscal responsibility, public safety initiatives, health care reforms, economic issues, and legislative action addressing concerns relevant to his constituents (official website).
