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

IV Organization

V Memorial Affairs

VI Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers

A Improvement of Veterans Community Care Program

Sec. 604. Discussion of telehealth options under Veterans Community Care Program

Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (q) as subsection (r); and

(2) by inserting after subsection (p) the following new subsection (q):

Text this section adds to the law

(q) Discussion of options for telehealth

(1) When discussing options for care or services for a covered veteran under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the veteran is informed of the ability of the veteran to seek care or services via telehealth, either through a medical facility of the Department or through a non-Department provider, if—

(A) telehealth is—

(i) available to the veteran;

(ii) appropriate for the type of care or services the veteran is seeking, as determined by the Secretary; and

(iii) is acceptable to the veteran; or

(B) the care or services the veteran is seeking is only or primarily available through telehealth.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to prohibit a health care provider specified in subsection (c) from furnishing hospital care, medical services, or extended care services under this section via telehealth.

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

F Other Health Care Matters