H.R. 9237

Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

Sponsor: Mike Bost

30 cosponsors
Follow this bill

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. 605. Extension of deadline for submittal of claims by health care entities and providers under prompt payment standard

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

(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking the reason for denying the claim and what, if any, additional information is required to process the claim and inserting the reason for denying the claim and request additional missing information, if any, that is required to process the claim;

(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

Text this section adds to the law

(b) Submittal of claims by health care entities and providers

(1) A health care entity or provider that furnishes hospital care, a medical service, or an extended care services under this chapter pursuant to a contract, agreement, or other arrangement shall submit to the Secretary a claim for payment for furnishing the hospital care, medical service, or extended care service not later than one year after the date on which the entity or provider furnished the hospital care, medical service, or extended care service.

(2) No health care entity or provider may seek payment from a patient if the health care entity or provider failed to comply with the timely filing requirement set forth in paragraph (1).

; and

(3) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

Text this section adds to the law

(3)

(A) If the Secretary determines, based on reliable evidence, that a health care entity or provider has submitted or caused to be submitted a fraudulent claim for payment under this chapter, the Secretary may suspend such entity or provider from furnishing hospital care, medical services, or extended care services under this chapter.

(B) Before imposing a suspension under subparagraph (A) with respect to an entity or provider, the Secretary shall—

(i) provide written notice to the entity or provider identifying the basis for the proposed suspension;

(ii) afford the entity or provider an opportunity to respond within a period of 30 days; and

(iii) consider any evidence or explanation submitted by the entity or provider.

(C)

(i) The Secretary shall take all necessary actions to resolve a suspension under subparagraph (A) as soon as possible but not longer than within one year of the date of the beginning of the suspension, unless the Secretary determines and provides a written determination that an extension beyond one year is strictly necessary to protect the interests of veterans and taxpayers and to preserve the integrity of the health care delivery system of the Department.

(ii) Any extension under clause (i) of a suspension shall—

(I) be for an additional period of not longer than one year; and

(II) shall be reported to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(D) The Secretary shall establish procedures for reinstatement of an entity or provider suspended under subparagraph (A) following the resolution of any fraud-related investigation or proceeding.

(E) The Secretary shall coordinate actions under this paragraph with the Office of Inspector General of the Department.

(F) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this paragraph, including standards of evidence, notice, and appeal procedures.

(G)

(i) Not less frequently than quarterly, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a written notification of the suspensions entered into, if any, during the preceding quarter that includes—

(I) the identity of the suspended entity or provider;

(II) the statutory or regulatory basis for the suspension;

(III) a summary of the factual findings or evidence supporting the action; and

(IV) the status of any related investigation of or referral to the Office of Inspector General of the Department or any other appropriate Federal agency.

(ii) The Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives, upon request, all records, memoranda, and communications relevant to any suspension or reinstatement action taken under this paragraph, in accordance with applicable laws related to privacy, ongoing investigations, or sensitive law enforcement information.

(iii) Failure by the Secretary to provide notice under clause (i) shall be treated as a failure to comply with a statutory reporting requirement.

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

F Other Health Care Matters