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Sen. Hagan co-sponsors military health care bill

Monday, July 26, 2010 12:00 AM | Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Kay R. Hagan (D-NC) cosponsored a bipartisan bill last week designed to help service members access mental health care services.

According to a press release from Hagan’s office, TRICARE, the health care system for service members, requires them to obtain a physician referral in order to see a licensed mental health counselor. However, this is not applied to licensed social workers or certified marriage and family therapists.

“Our service men and women put their lives on the line for our country, and they now face an unnecessary, administrative hurdle to accessing mental health care,” Hagan said in the press release. “As a U.S. Senator from North Carolina and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am focused on ensuring our veterans, active duty military and their families can access the services they need. Mental health care for our returning troops is so critical, and I will work with my colleagues to ensure this important bill is signed into law.”

A recent RAND study found that nearly 20 percent of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan experience post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders. Suicide rates for service men and women are at an all time high.

The TRICARE Mental Health Care Access Act, S. 3371, would remove the TRICARE physician referral and supervision requirement, the press release said.

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