Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act of 2026

This legislative proposal, titled the "Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act of 2026," mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create and maintain a preferred provider list . This list will comprise healthcare providers who have completed annual, evidence-based training focused on the prevention of suicide among veterans. The training can be offered by the VA or be a substantially similar program that meets applicable competency standards for military health care professionals. The Secretary must make this list publicly accessible to veterans eligible for VA healthcare, ensuring they can identify providers with specialized training in suicide prevention. Covered providers, including those under specific VA health care sections and entities with Veterans Care Agreements, can opt out of the list. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to submit annual reports to Congress detailing the number of trained providers, veteran utilization patterns of the list, and recommendations for improving access to care from these specialized providers.