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. 609. Updates to contracting requirements under Veterans Community Care Program

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

(1) in paragraph (3)—

(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:

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(A) The Secretary may terminate a contract with an entity entered into under paragraph (1) at such time and upon such notice to the entity as the Secretary may specify for purposes of this section, if the Secretary notifies the appropriate committees of Congress that, at a minimum—

(i) the entity failed to comply substantially with the provisions of the contract or with the provisions of this section and the regulations prescribed under this section, including with respect to access, quality, training, and medical documentation;

(ii) it is reasonable to terminate the contract based on the health care needs of veterans; or

(iii) it is reasonable to terminate the contract based on coverage provided by contracts or sharing agreements entered into under authorities other than this section.

(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D);

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraphs:

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(B)

(i) The Secretary shall terminate a contract with an entity entered into under paragraph (1) at such a time and upon such notice to the entity as the Secretary may specify for the purposes of this section, if the entity—

(I) is excluded from participation in a Federal health care program (as defined in section 1128B(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b(f))) under section 1128 or 1128A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7 and 1320a–7a);

(II) has been convicted of a felony or other serious offense under Federal or State law and the continued participation of the entity would be detrimental to the best interests of veterans or the Department; or

(III) is identified as an excluded source on the list maintained in the System for Award Management, or any successor system.

(ii) The Secretary may issue a waiver for entities subject to clause (i) for a one-year period, and such a waiver shall be reported to Congress not later than 30 days after such waiver is issued.

(C) Any entities ineligible to enter into contracts with the Department due to one or more reasons specified in this paragraph may be listed on a publicly available website of the Department or appropriate third party administrator.

(D) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, by striking in subparagraph (A) and inserting in this paragraph; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

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(7) Any contract or agreement between the Department and a third party administrator or between a third party administrator and a health care provider specified in subsection (c) that is made with respect to care or services provided under this section shall include—

(A) notice of obligations to comply with Federal laws and the consequences for failure to comply with those laws, including specific information regarding claims for payment and consequences for any false claims, statements, or documents, or concealment of a material fact;

(B) confirmation by the health care provider that they are accredited to provide any specialized services subject to the contract or agreement and that they will only use qualified staff to provide those services; and

(C) confirmation that the health care provider will identify any individuals providing specialized services or treatments included in the contract or agreement and provide proof of the licensure of those individuals to the Department.

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

F Other Health Care Matters