HR 1969119th CongressIntroduced

No Wrong Door for Veterans Act

Introduced: Mar 10, 2025

HealthcareVeterans Affairs

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The No Wrong Door for Veterans Act would reauthorize and improve the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (a VA program aimed at expanding suicide prevention and mental health services for veterans). Key changes include extending the program’s funding and duration, adding new requirements to ensure emergent suicide care is available promptly, broadening who may receive grant funds, updating screening protocols to a widely used suicide-risk tool, and expanding the range of medical services to include adaptive prostheses for sports and recreation. The bill also makes a related change to extend a pension payment limit. Overall, the bill is designed to strengthen veterans’ access to suicide prevention resources and emergency care, streamline how veterans are connected to services (the “No Wrong Door” concept), and broaden the scope of VA medical benefits related to rehabilitation and adaptive devices.

Key Points

1Reauthorization and funding extensions for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program:
2- Extends the program through fiscal year 2026 (with a total of $174 million for 2021–2025 and an additional $52.5 million for 2026).
3Emergent suicide care enhancements:
4- Requires grant-funded entities to notify eligible veterans about emergent suicide care options under 38 U.S.C. 1720J.
5- Requires the Secretary to be notified if the veteran elects emergent care.
6- If the VA does not provide services within 72 hours after referral, the veteran becomes eligible for emergent suicide care under 38 U.S.C. 1720J.
7Eligibility and criteria for grant recipients:
8- Entities must have continuously provided mental health care or support services in the U.S. during the two years before applying.
9- Eligibility expanded to include health care providers (not just foundations or organizations).
10Screening and definitions:
11- Requires use of the Columbia Protocol (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale) for screening in new grants.
12- Clarifies terms related to emergency treatment.
13Expanded VA medical services:
14- Adds adaptive prostheses and terminal devices for sports and recreational activities to the list of services available to eligible veterans.
15Pension payment extension:
16- Extends the limit for certain pension payments from November 30, 2031 to January 30, 2033.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Veterans at risk of suicide and veterans who access the SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, including providers that receive or administer these grants.Secondary group/area affected:- VA medical centers, community-based veteran health providers, and other eligible entities delivering mental health and emergent care services.Additional impacts:- Potentially faster access to emergent care for veterans identified as at risk, improved standardization of suicide risk screening (via the Columbia Protocol), broader participation of healthcare providers in grant programs, and expanded rehabilitation options through adaptive prostheses and related devices. The pension extension also affects beneficiaries and VA pension administration.

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