Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2025
Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and report on veteran suicides over the past five years. The report would compile data on how many veterans died by suicide, violent death, or accidental death, and would include demographic information about these veterans. The key aspect is that it would track all veterans who received VA care during the five-year period before their death, not just cases already reported to the CDC. **Who It Affects:** The bill directly affects veterans who use VA healthcare services and their families.
It also involves the VA and the National Academies, which would conduct the research. Indirectly, it could influence how the federal government addresses veteran mental health and medication practices going forward. **Current Status:** The bill (HR 136) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. No action has been taken beyond the initial introduction.
CRS Official Summary
Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to report on the deaths of covered veterans who died by suicide during the last five years, regardless of whether information relating to such deaths has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A covered veteran is any veteran who received VA hospital care or medical services during the five-year period preceding the veteran's death.Among other elements, the report shall include the total number of covered veterans who died by suicide, violent death, or accidental death, as well as certain demographic information.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.