WATCH/DOWNLOAD: Sen. Ossoff speaks on passage of his bipartisan bill
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s bipartisan bill to expand access to counseling and mental health services for Georgia’s military families passed the Senate as part of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.
Sens. Ossoff and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the bipartisan Military Families Mental Health Services Act to help more military families access vital mental health care services.
The bipartisan bill will allow the Secretary of Defense to waive out-of-pocket expenses for military families on TRICARE for their first three outpatient mental health visits per year, lowering costs and helping families access the treatment they need.
“Military servicemembers and their families — spouses and children — are under a lot of stress. They’re moving frequently within the United States and sometimes have unexpected and extended deployments overseas. These are tough and often underpaid jobs under difficult circumstances,” Sen. Ossoff said. “I want to make sure that military family members also have access to the mental health services that they need. We can never do too much to support the servicemembers who defend our nation and their families.”
Last year, Sens. Ossoff and Cramer worked together to pass into law similar legislation to help veterans afford mental health treatment.
Click here to read the bipartisan Military Families Mental Health Services Act.
