Legislative Tasks
The COVER Commission’s Legislative Tasks
The Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery (COVER) Commission, established under the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA), is charged with five research tasks to structure the commission’s work and serve as the basis of recommendations to the President, congressional Veterans Affairs Committees, and Secretary of VA.
Task 1
Task 1 charges the commission to examine the efficacy of evidence-based therapy, as currently used by VA for treating mental health illnesses, and to identify ways in which VA can improve outcomes.
Task 2
Task 2 requires the commission to conduct a patient-centered survey within each of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), to include the following:
- Veterans’ experiences with VA when seeking medical assistance for mental health issues through VA’s health care system.
- Veterans’ experience with treating mental health issues at non-VA facilities by private-sector health professionals.
- Veterans’ preferences regarding available treatment for mental health issues and the methods they believe are most effective.
- Veterans’ experience with respect to CIH therapies.
- The prevalence of prescribing medication to veterans seeking treatment through the VA health care system for treating mental health issues.
- The outreach efforts of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (SECVA) regarding availability of mental health benefits and treatments for veterans, including efforts to reduce barriers to receiving benefits and treatments.
Task 3
Task 3 requires the commission to examine available research on CIH approaches for addressing mental health issues and identify potential benefits for veterans of providing services such as music therapy, equine therapy training and caring for service dogs, yoga therapy, acupuncture therapy, meditation therapy, outdoor sports therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, accelerated resolution therapy, art therapy, magnetic resonance therapy, and other appropriate therapies.
Task 4
Task 4 charges the commission with studying the sufficiency of VA’s resources for ensuring veterans receive quality health care for mental health issues. The commission has defined sufficiency as the ability to meet the needs of veterans living with PTSD, depression, and substance abuse disorders to achieve recovery through efficient care and effective outcomes.
Task 5
Task 5 requires the commission to study current mental health treatments and resources available within VA and assess the following:
- The effectiveness of such treatments and resources in decreasing the number of suicides per day by veterans.
- The number of veterans who have been diagnosed with mental health issues.
- The percentage of veterans diagnosed with mental health issues who are using VA resources.
- The percentage of veterans who have completed VA offered counseling sessions.
- The viability of treatments offered by VA for improving the recovery of veterans with mental health issues.
