[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6254661,"mediaKeyId","3170122-a3bdf23aec84658c1d31b89fa7f5ae5f","parentId",3170122,"title","VA officials describe expanding somatic therapies and research into psychedelics for treatment‑resistant conditions","audioSeconds",266,"startMs",2624000,"endMs",2890000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3170122-a3bdf23aec84658c1d31b89fa7f5ae5f&start=2624&end=2890","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3170122-a3bdf23aec84658c1d31b89fa7f5ae5f/thumbnail_2624000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6254661/VA-officials-describe-expanding-somatic-therapies-and-research-into-psychedelics-for-treatmentresistant-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6254661-6ae479c74cd806d8c98a070b4e5705f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160712&Signature=VP-mgYS45IB4L4wpSQZGDcCrSPHUmN9wAH50wNdBT3mBebfK3w-3w6rJmrRwOAuN3XTJJqbldDVyE5dhr3NFwLOCf0DqeytXW6wphuuEVEfnQlJr2gR~cOAaPuvfnjZT2lr1wG2klPPaWD3v6YsZB-NxPWWzV~LCpqT59hhak~5TjJksXIVqiui1HG7PnPIqPX8oBBAf4juZckt9o5RKTltwRd-XCct83YG4jpusLsh4zEGQfPPpooAGOgakXjNbaJfVZZoAr3bh6EImFEsn7EkfOsPBCY9CTlgMASofOz-5mtNZXuI4RZRPSJSap9w5o-4jukr0H-CdFn6VaizSFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs","date","2025-05-01T18:51:56.377Z","article","Department of Veterans Affairs witnesses told the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations that the agency is expanding access to somatic treatments and pursuing research into psychedelic therapies for treatment‑resistant mental health conditions.

Dr. Ilsa Weekers, Deputy Executive Director of the VHA Office of Mental Health, told lawmakers that VA has grown use of somatic treatments over the last several years and is working to expand access. “VA has been growing its use of, what we call the somatic treatments. So those are things like ECT, transcranial magnetic stimulation, ketamine infusions, and intranasal esketamine,” she said. Weekers added that VA had “announced an RFA for funding of psychedelic research” and that other studies — including stellate ganglion block and other emerging therapies — are ongoing.

Dr. Anthony Stazoni, Chief Medical Officer for VISN 9, told the committee that VISN 9 is trying to implement “all 3 modalities of treatment, ECT, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and ketamine infusion at all of our sites” to ensure veterans have access to evidence‑based options for treatment‑resistant depression.

VA and OIG witnesses agreed on the department's research history and its continuing role in developing and testing new interventions. “Nobody does mental health care like VA. They are absolutely pioneers in this field,” said the OIG representative, who described ongoing and future oversight work.

Discussion versus decision: Witnesses described current and planned research and service expansions; no new treatment approvals or funding allocations were adopted by the committee at the hearing. Members encouraged accelerated evaluation and deployment of evidence‑based options to meet veterans where they are.

Ending: Lawmakers and VA witnesses indicated interest in continuing collaboration on research and in monitoring outcomes as VA expands access to somatic and novel therapies.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Oversight Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","VA witnesses told lawmakers the department is increasing access to somatic treatments such as ECT, TMS and ketamine, and has issued a request for applications to fund psychedelic research; VISN officials said efforts are underway to implement modalities across sites.","taxTitle","Veterans Affairs: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1825,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6254666,"Lawmakers press VA on staffing cuts, RIF rubrics, privacy and outreach limits",1148,2052000,3200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3170122-a3bdf23aec84658c1d31b89fa7f5ae5f&start=2052&end=3200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3170122-a3bdf23aec84658c1d31b89fa7f5ae5f/thumbnail_2052000.jpg","/articles/6254666/Lawmakers-press-VA-on-staffing-cuts-RIF-rubrics-privacy-and-outreach-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6254666-6892dceea9a40f4e84a2b086553394fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160712&Signature=eyabHNxtUFmXetPq7HiHVewZk8G9lQrWqLWz2u~X2var-JaRNDzPa364Gb~efqQNfPQu6UA42zCENBA7GQTDFf2ppxeUBjNVndDV2QKnFHM0xyZ-raC63ULBZEEP9DGlnU08fBr6jeVWMwQP5xh5WcsMW8SRigchSjLd1OXi4xHJP9lqP6-jrvaqmcztYRYOQ7Mvg32f99GOrx3QRws~NoE46UhfVFiaAuM2MrxZKkAQH7Mdri0NHwTcbEyVuQZsg825t71g5oh-vq9IlNiEmYKNt1TiKeRmCrvjMyft1PHjsZ-fIcK2Zttqz31zto-Zr7hOIvJTwEYKsCj8JnnlFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations pressed Department of Veterans Affairs officials about staffing plans, a supervisor rubric used for proposed reductions in force (RIF), workspace privacy for telehealth, and reports that field staff were prevented from conducting outreach.

Ranking Member Veronica Ramirez showed the committee a rubric supervisors were required to fill out to justify why employees should not be subject to a RIF; she described that requirement as “absurd” and said some supervisors reported filling it out for more than 300 employees. Ramirez said the rubric asked supervisors to provide “1 to 2 sentences” explaining clinicians’ special skills, and questioned whether that adequately captured a provider’s value to veteran care.

VA officials defended protections for frontline mental health staff and said exempted positions include clinicians. “There are 30,000 frontline provider, and staff positions that are exempt from the hiring freeze and other actions,” said Dr. Ilsa Weekers, Deputy Executive Director of the VHA Office of Mental Health. Later in the hearing, Dr. Anthony Stazoni, Chief Medical Officer for VISN 9, told members “300,000 positions were exempted from the hiring freeze,” and said his VISN maintains a workforce dashboard and ongoing recruitments. Members asked the VA to supply the committee with detailed hiring and onboarding data; VA witnesses said they would take that request back.

Members also raised privacy concerns tied to return‑to‑office directives. Ranking Member Ramirez recounted reports that clinicians were conducting telehealth in “open spaces to closets to even showers,” and said providers had told her they were worried about veteran privacy. Dr. Weekers said facilities “are held to the highest legal and ethical standards related to privacy” and that processes exist for staff to report unsuitable space so accommodations can be made.

Outreach and fieldwork: Ramirez told the committee she had received reports that VA staff in Chicago were told “to no longer go out to the ward offices to do veteran outreach.” Weekers said she was not personally aware of that directive and said she would “take that back and look into it and get you an answer.”

Discussion versus facts: The committee did not approve workforce reductions or create new policy at the hearing. Lawmakers repeatedly asked for documentary evidence and data on exemptions, hiring and onboarding. Witnesses committed to follow up with additional information and to report back on specific allegations (for example, the outreach reports and timing of responses to congressional letters).

Ending: The subcommittee closed the hearing requesting documentation on hiring, onboarding and RIF‑rubric practices. Members signaled they will use those materials to scrutinize any workforce changes that could affect veterans’ access to mental health care.","Committee members questioned VA witnesses about proposed workforce reductions, supervisors' rubrics for RIF exemptions, privacy concerns after return‑to‑office orders, and allegations that field staff were barred from community outreach.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6254671,"House subcommittee spotlights OIG findings, low suicide‑screening adherence and VA Risk ID plan",0,275000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3170122-a3bdf23aec84658c1d31b89fa7f5ae5f&start=275&end=275","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3170122-a3bdf23aec84658c1d31b89fa7f5ae5f/thumbnail_275000.jpg","/articles/6254671/House-subcommittee-spotlights-OIG-findings-low-suicidescreening-adherence-and-VA-Risk-ID-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6254671-ea9af1126fd1acd66be6456915b6fef5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160712&Signature=QRzdTLRchyi06zXbpa6wM2vxLP-gCgtVQZbXdUs-AxnkX7BIAisVJfZXFmOifLMOCxVLv5RSx4shuWlOOgLcTGMll9rlJ9mFEJTAUbbtKCyvF57--1HblUfBXX8Zi5JeQwBNIRmzZuxbntpMQfE4KJJ~VtPU3jMOL3Gn~WHHscOYMoGGD9AnRg6wxbl45UkIypngZ3JrQhkvGTDfmCM43GISYax3aoPM~5rry3hoVGcUtmWyCfzeXVfl7P13uAIGCBidMOQWuucuMs4LGGKHx0oZsCJeArLZ2JDuGFV9IeHKTTFXs4nr5Fnj8N1gNOx-p6bGQErtEBWfIALTLWraIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing focused on Department of Veterans Affairs mental health policies and suicide prevention, where independent inspectors and VA officials described gaps in screening, inpatient care and follow-up that oversight teams say must be fixed.

The hearing opened with Chair Julia Mulligan saying the panel would “dig deeper into VA's mental health policies to gain insight into the processes and quality of care decisions regarding Veterans' mental health care.” Ranking Member Veronica Ramirez and other members pressed witnesses on Inspector General findings and VA plans to standardize suicide‑risk screening.

Why it matters: The Office of Inspector General (OIG) told the subcommittee that adherence to the annual suicide‑risk screening requirement was low. “A December 2024 OIG review of VHA's Suicide Risk Screening Compliance found that in fiscal year 23 the annual adherence rate was just 55 percent,” said Dr. Julie Krobiak, Acting Assistant Inspector General for the Office of Healthcare Inspections. OIG reviews also identified lapses in inpatient safety practices, discharge planning and delays in internal reviews after veteran suicides, which the office said impede improvements and can harm families.

VA witnesses described ongoing and planned steps. Dr. Ilsa Weekers, Deputy Executive Director of the Veterans Health Administration Office of Mental Health, said VA completed “over 2,600,000 suicide risk screenings” in fiscal year 2024 and has issued a VHA memorandum requiring implementation of the Suicide Risk Identification Strategy, or Risk ID, by April 7, 2025. “The path forward requires VA to embrace innovation, accountability, and proven practices across every facet of its operations,” Weekers told the committee.

OIG testimony and examples: Krobiak told members that the OIG groups deficiencies into three stages: screening and assessment, acute care management, and post‑event reviews. She cited a hotline investigation in which a crisis line responder “did not fully assess a caller's alcohol impairment and access to lethal means. Shortly after the call the veteran died by suicide.” The OIG also reported failure to follow mandates for removing potentially dangerous belongings from hospitalized patients and lapses in required one‑to‑one observation, both of which preceded suicide attempts.

VISN roles and governance: The OIG described confusion among the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) chief mental health officers about their authority to address noncompliance. “It was concerning that the facility was undergoing such trauma and the VISN either didn't know about it or didn't effectively intervene or monitor the events that were occurring,” Krobiak said. VA officials told the committee the Office of Mental Health has drafted a functional statement to clarify VISN chief mental health officer roles.

Standards, training and guideline updates: Dr. Weekers pointed to a 2018 National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide and a 2024 joint clinical practice guideline from the VA and Department of Defense for assessment and management of patients at risk for suicide. She said VHA requires suicide‑prevention training for all staff and specialty training for Suicide Prevention Coordinators and clinicians.

Discussion versus decision: Witnesses described initiatives and policy instruments (Risk ID memorandum, role‑clarification drafts, training requirements). The committee did not adopt or vote on new rules at the hearing; members requested further information and VA officials pledged to provide follow‑up data and documents.

Next steps noted: Members pressed for clearer lines of authority at the VISN level and full implementation of Risk ID. Both VA and OIG said continued oversight and collaboration will be needed to close the gaps identified by inspections and hotline reviews.

Ending: The subcommittee left the hearing with concrete OIG findings to probe further and VA assurances that memoranda, training and functional statements are being pursued to improve suicide‑risk identification and inpatient safety.","A House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee hearing on VA mental health policy highlighted an Office of Inspector General finding of low screening adherence, VA counts of screenings in fiscal 2024, and gaps in inpatient discharge and post‑suicide reviews that OIG says increase risk to veterans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

VA officials describe expanding somatic therapies and research into psychedelics for treatment‑resistant conditions

Lawmakers press VA on staffing cuts, RIF rubrics, privacy and outreach limits

House subcommittee spotlights OIG findings, low suicide‑screening adherence and VA Risk ID plan