S-2921 : Still Just a Bill

Veterans First Act

TITLE I--PERSONNEL AND ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS

This bill establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.

The VA is required to develop criteria to promote supervisory protection of whistle-blowers.

The bill revises VA authority to remove certain employees or senior VA executives for reasons of misconduct or performance.

TITLE II--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

Jason Simcakoski Memorial Act

The bill establishes the Veterans Expedited Recovery Commission to examine the VA's therapy model for treating mental health illnesses.

The VA shall require additional information about a prospective health care employee from the medical board of each state in which the health care provider holds or has held a medical license.

The VA family caregiver program is expanded.

The bill establishes a VA advisory committee on caregiver policies.

The VA shall revive the Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program.

The VA may place a veteran requesting nursing home care in a medical foster home that meets appropriate VA standards.

The bill sets forth requirements for VA hospitals with emergency departments to provide appropriate examination and stabilizing treatment for emergency medical conditions and women in labor.

The VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) shall jointly update the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain.

The VA shall expand its Opioid Safety Initiative.

The bill establishes the VA Office of Patient Advocacy.

The VA shall ensure that payments are made promptly to non-VA health care providers.

If the VA is unable to furnish certain hospital, medical, or extended care at VA facilities or under other authorized contracts or sharing agreements, it may enter into a Veterans Care Agreement with an eligible provider to furnish such care.

The bill authorizes the VA to carry out specified major medical facility projects in California, Maryland, Kentucky, and Washington.

The VA shall: (1) adopt the Federal Drug Administrations's unique device identification system to identify biological implants for use in VA medical procedures; (2) expand research and integration of complementary and integrative health services into veterans health care services; and (3) carry out a three-year program to assess the feasibility of integrating complementary and alternative medicine services for veterans with mental health conditions, chronic pain conditions, and other chronic conditions.

TITLE III--DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND PENSION

The VA may pay burial and funeral expenses and other benefits to a survivor of a veteran who has not filed a formal claim if the record contains sufficient evidence to establish the survivor's entitlement to such benefits.

The bill increases the special monthly pension for living Medal of Honor recipients.

The Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 is amended to extend VA authority to provide for persons other than VA employees (i.e., contract physicians) to conduct medical disability examinations of applicants for VA benefits.

The VA shall carry out a five-year disability claims appeals pilot program.

TITLE IV--EDUCATION

Any member of the Armed Forces who died between September 11, 2001, and December 31, 2005, is deemed to have died on January 1, 2006, in order to make that member's surviving spouse eligible for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry scholarship.

VA educational assistance payments for a veteran who was forced to discontinue a course or who did not receive credit toward completion of an education program because of a permanent school closure shall not be charged against the individual's educational assistance entitlement or counted against the aggregate assistance period.

The bill revises the process for electing Post-9/11 educational benefits.

TITLE V--EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION

Each state director for veterans' employment and training shall coordinate activities with the state's departments of labor and veterans affairs.

TITLE VI--HOMELESS VETERANS

The bill includes as a homeless veteran, for purposes of VA benefits, a veteran or veteran's family fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in their current housing situation.

The VA shall shall carry out case management services to improve the retention of housing by: (1) veterans who were previously homeless and who are transitioning to permanent housing, and (2) veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless.

The VA shall establish the National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans.

This bill eliminates the minimum continuous active duty service requirement for homeless veterans to receive certain benefits.

Homeless veterans are exempted from disqualification for such benefits because of a discharge or dismissal from the Armed Forces under conditions other than honorable, except for a discharge by reason of a general court-martial.

TITLE VII--UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

The bill extends the temporary expansion of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

TITLE VIII--BURIAL BENEFITS

The VA may, in lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker to certain deceased individuals, furnish a medallion or other device to be attached to a headstone or marker furnished at private expense.

TITLE IX--OTHER MATTERS

The VA may carry out specified leases at the VA's West Los Angeles Campus in Los Angeles, California.