H.R. 9237

Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

Sponsor: Mike Bost

30 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Take Care of America's Veterans Act

This bill addresses veterans’ benefits, health care, counseling, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel, VA infrastructure, and the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP).

The bill modifies various compensation programs for veterans, including by (1) allowing concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retired pay for certain retirees with a combat-related disability, (2) extending entitlement for various benefits and services to remarried surviving spouses, (3) increasing the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation, and (4) establishing a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans.

The bill also addresses VA education and training benefits, including by (1) modifying which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits, (2) requiring Transition Assistance Program counseling to include a presentation about VA benefits, and (3) increasing the housing allowance rate for individuals pursuing apprenticeships.

The bill revises health care provisions, including by (1) expanding support and assistance provided to family caregivers, (2) extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and (3) expanding the scope of VA mental health research.

Among other elements, the bill

  • revises VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus;
  • expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces;
  • addresses the administration of the VCCP and codifies the eligibility standards;
  • establishes a standardized screening process for priority or routine admission to certain mental health care programs; and
  • addresses VA personnel, hiring, and infrastructure matters.

Text of the bill

Expand all

I Compensation

II Education and Economic Opportunity

III Health Care

Sec. 317. Improvement of submission of medical documentation to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by community care providers

(a) In general. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that each contract, agreement, or other arrangement through which the Secretary furnishes hospital care, medical services, or extended care services to eligible veterans through non-Department of Veterans Affairs entities or providers includes clear requirements, including requirements regarding timeliness, regarding the submission of medical documentation to the Secretary after a veteran receives such care or services from the non-Department entity or provider.

(b) Internal Measures. The Secretary shall establish such goals and related performance measures for medical centers of the Department as the Secretary determines appropriate in obtaining medical documentation from non-Department entities or providers under subsection (a).

(c) Training. The Secretary may establish goals and related performance measures for the completion by non-Department entities or providers of core training related to the submission to the Secretary of medical documentation under subsection (a) and may monitor the completion of such training.

(d) Outreach. The Secretary shall ensure that communications by the Secretary with non-Department entities or providers contain clear and accurate information regarding requirements for submitting medical documentation under subsection (a) and completing the core training described in subsection (c).

(e) Submission of goals, measures, and materials. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter for the following five years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives copies of any goals, performance measures, training materials, or outreach materials pertaining to the submission of medical documentation under this section.

IV Organization

V Memorial Affairs

VI Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers

A Improvement of Veterans Community Care Program

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

F Other Health Care Matters