Bill Text: OR HJM4 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Urging Congress to mandate limit on mental health care caseloads.

Sponsorship: Unknown

Status: (Passed) 2011-05-31 - Filed with Secretary of State. [HJM4 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2011-HJM4-Introduced.html

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     76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
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 LC 3109

                     House Joint Memorial 4

Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
  Presession filed (at the request of House Interim Committee on
  Veterans and Emergency Services)

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Urges Congress to mandate limit on mental health care
caseloads.

                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the President of the United States and the Senate and the
  House of Representatives of the United States of America, in
  Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-sixth Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas our nation has no greater duty to our veterans than to
provide them with the best medical care possible and to support
them with programs and policies that improve their quality of
life before, during and after their deployments; and
  Whereas the full psychological effect of war is impossible to
estimate because symptoms of debilitating conditions such as
post-traumatic stress disorder and depression often take years to
appear; and
  Whereas a study conducted in 2008 found that a substantial
number of service members returning from the conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan may face mental health problems; and
  Whereas a report mandated by Congress in 2008 determined that
mental health professionals are overwhelmed by huge caseloads,
resulting in long waiting periods for veterans seeking care and
longer travel times for veterans to access available
professionals; and
  Whereas that same report found that veterans facilities have
problems retaining mental health professionals; and
  Whereas speciality care for mental health conditions is not
readily available in many areas of the country because most
mental health professionals are concentrated in urban areas; and
  Whereas even where speciality care is available, limited health
plan coverage may reduce access for veterans seeking care outside
of the Veterans Health Administration; and
  Whereas many veterans seeking to reintegrate into civilian life
seek care in community-based settings, but studies have shown
gaps in the quality of care in community-based settings; and

  Whereas caseloads are excessive, causing delays in treatment
for mental health conditions at a time when many veterans acutely
need treatment; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) That the Seventy-sixth Legislative Assembly urges the
Congress of the United States to enact legislation that reduces
the patient caseload of Veterans Health Administration mental
health professionals to no more than 60.
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President of
the United States, to the Senate Majority Leader, to the Speaker
of the House of Representatives and to each member of the Oregon
Congressional Delegation.
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