TESTIMONY: VA's Management of Mental Health Services and Medication Safety
Description
GAO Director Alyssa Hundrup testified on issues related to the VA's management of mental health services and medication safety for veterans before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Our testimony is based on the following reports:
• VA Mental Health: VHA Improved Certain Prescribing Practices, but Needs to Strengthen Treatment Plan Oversight
• VA Health Care: Progress Made Towards Improving Opioid Safety, but Further Efforts to Assess Progress and Reduce Risks Are Needed
• DOD and VA Health Care: Actions Needed to Better Facilitate Access to Mental Health Services During Military to Civilian Transitions
We've previously made several recommendations to help VA strengthen its oversight of mental health treatment planning and services, and opioid safety. For example, we recommended that VA assess its mental health services for service members as they transition to civilian life. The VA has addressed some of our recommendations but still needs to address others.
• VA Mental Health: VHA Improved Certain Prescribing Practices, but Needs to Strengthen Treatment Plan Oversight
• VA Health Care: Progress Made Towards Improving Opioid Safety, but Further Efforts to Assess Progress and Reduce Risks Are Needed
• DOD and VA Health Care: Actions Needed to Better Facilitate Access to Mental Health Services During Military to Civilian Transitions
We've previously made several recommendations to help VA strengthen its oversight of mental health treatment planning and services, and opioid safety. For example, we recommended that VA assess its mental health services for service members as they transition to civilian life. The VA has addressed some of our recommendations but still needs to address others.