Capps Votes To Strengthen Veteran's Health Care

Press Release

Today, Rep. Lois Capps voted to pass the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (S. 1963). This landmark legislation will strengthen health care services for our nation's veterans by expanding services for women veterans, providing resources to caregivers of wounded veterans, improving health care for veterans living in rural areas, providing greater access to mental health services, and expanding assistance to homeless veterans. The legislation has received strong endorsements from numerous veterans groups, including the VFW, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, the Wounded Warrior Project, and Paralyzed Veterans of America. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill soon, sending the bill to the President for his signature.

"This important legislation exemplifies this Congress' unwavering commitment to our veterans and their families. Tremendous advances in battlefield medicine have increased the survival rate of wounded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and made it even more important that we constantly work to improve veterans' health care and its many support services. America has a sacred obligation to ensure our veterans receive the best care possible and that commitment extends to the dedicated family members who care for our wounded warriors," said Capps. "Among its many critical provisions, I am particularly proud of the expansion of VA services offered to the 1.8 million women who have courageously served their country, including child care for women receiving intensive mental and physical health care services, and post-delivery health care for newborns. In addition, the expansion of mental health benefits, greater support for caregivers, and help for homeless vets will improve the lives of millions of brave men and women and their families."

Background on the legislation is below:

CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE

Caregivers of OEF/OIF Veterans

* Caregivers are defined as family members (parent, spouse, child, step-family member, extended family member) or non-family members who live with the veteran.
* The caregiver and eligible OEF/OIF veteran must submit a joint application and once accepted, the caregiver receives the following support services:
* Training and education;
* Counseling and mental health services;
* Respite care of no less than 30 days annually, including 24 hour in-home respite care;
* Lodging and subsistence payments when accompanying the veteran on medical care visits;
* Health care through the CHAMPVA program (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs); and
* Monthly financial stipend as determined appropriate by the Secretary based on the amount and degree of personal care services provided, and no less than the monthly amount of a commercial home health care entity.

Caregivers of Veterans of Any Era

* Caregivers are defined in the same manner as that of the support program for caregiver of OEF/OIF veterans. However, there is no residency requirement for non-family members.
* Support services for caregivers of veterans of any era include the following:
* Training and education;
* Counseling and mental health services;
* Respite care including 24 hours in-home respite care;
* Information on the support services available to caregivers through other public, private, and non-profit agencies.

WOMEN VETERANS HEALTH CARE

The bill will expand and improve VA health care services for the 1.8 million women who have bravely served their country. It requires the VA to:

1. Conduct a study of barriers to women veterans seeking health care,
2. Educate and train mental health professionals caring for veterans with sexual trauma;
3. Implement a reintegration and readjustment pilot program;
4. Establish a child care pilot program for women receiving regular and intensive mental health care and intensive health care services, or who are in need of such services but do not seek care due to the lack of child care services;
5. Provide up to seven days of post-delivery health care to a new born child of a women veteran.

RURAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS

* Improves health care for veterans living in rural areas, including by expanding transportation for veterans to local VA hospitals and clinics through VA grants to local Veterans Service Organizations.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE

* Provides access to counseling and other mental health centers to any member of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves, who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom but who are no longer on active duty) and
* Requires the VA to conduct a veterans' suicide study.

OTHER HEALTH CARE ISSUES

* Prohibits the VA from collecting copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.
* Creates a pilot program, which would provide specified dental services to veterans, survivors, and dependents of veterans through a dental insurer.
* Requires the VA to provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and Gulf-War era veterans who have insufficient medical evidence to establish a service-connected disability.
* Provides higher priority status for certain veterans who are Medal of Honor recipients.

HOMELESS VETERANS

* Expands the organizations offering transitional housing and other support for homeless veterans that can receive grants or per diems from the VA, which is particularly important to veterans in rural areas.

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