An Act To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration.
Summary
This bill, H.R. 658, amends Title 38 of the United States Code to establish specific qualifications for individuals appointed as marriage and family therapists providing clinical supervision within the Veterans Health Administration. It mandates that such therapists must meet existing qualification standards and be recognized or authorized by their state to provide clinical supervision. The bill aims to ensure that veterans receive care from qualified professionals.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely lead to a more standardized and qualified pool of marriage and family therapists within the VHA. This could improve the quality of mental health services provided to veterans. It also clarifies the requirements for clinical supervision, potentially enhancing the training and development of therapists.
Potential Benefits
- Improved quality of mental health services for veterans.
- Standardized qualifications for marriage and family therapists in the VHA.
- Enhanced training and supervision for therapists.
- Greater assurance that veterans are receiving care from qualified professionals.
- Potentially better outcomes for veterans seeking mental health treatment.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential limitations on the pool of eligible therapists if state requirements are too stringent.
- Possible increased administrative burden for the VHA to verify qualifications.
- May not address other systemic issues within the VHA that affect mental health care.
- Could create barriers for therapists licensed in some states but not others.
- The bill does not address the overall funding or resources allocated to mental health services for veterans.
Constitutional Alignment
This bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause, as it aims to improve healthcare services for veterans. Specifically, it relates to Congress's power to provide for the common defense and general welfare, as outlined in the Preamble. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).