[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9005 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9005
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program for the cognitive care of veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 28, 2022
Mrs. Harshbarger (for herself and Mr. Roy) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program for the cognitive care of veterans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Innovative Cognitive Care for
Veterans Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to a 2020 study by the Office of the
Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy and
Planning of the Department of Veterans Affairs, it is projected
that the number of veterans with Alzheimer's dementia will
increase by 28.9 percent between fiscal year 2021 and fiscal
year 2033, amounting to an estimated 48,000 new patients with
cognitive impairments.
(2) The cost of expenditures of the Department of Veterans
Affairs for long-term care is growing rapidly, as demonstrated
by a 2020 Government Accountability Office report that
estimates such expenditures are projected to double to
$14,300,000,000 by 2037.
(3) As described in the report specified in paragraph (2),
the Department of Veterans Affairs also faces both a current
and incoming workforce shortage, in addition to other
challenges relating to the provision of long-term care services
to the more than 2,800,000 estimated veterans who are enrolled
in the patient enrollment system of the Department established
and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States
Code, and live in rural areas.
(4) As observed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
veterans can also be prone to unique factors that increase the
risk for future cognitive impairment. For example, it has been
found that veterans who served during the Vietnam era and,
while so serving, were exposed to Agent Orange are nearly twice
as likely as those without such exposure to receive a diagnosis
of dementia.
(5) This data compels the United States Government to do
more for veterans and their cognitive care.
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR ADDRESSING
COGNITIVE DISORDERS AMONG VETERANS.
(a) Pilot Program.--
(1) Pilot program.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall carry out, as a part of the Veterans Community Care
Program under section 1703 of title 38, and in accordance with
the requirements of such program, a pilot program (in this
section referred to as the ``pilot program'') under which the
Secretary may enter into agreements with eligible entities to
furnish to participating veterans telehealth, virtual training
tools for home health aides, and other innovative services,
that slow the progression of cognitive disorders.
(2) Veterans care agreements.--In entering into agreements
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may enter into a Veterans
Care Agreement under section 1703A of title 38, United States
Code, consistent with the requirements of such section.
(b) Selection of Entities.--
(1) Eligible entities.--An entity is eligible for entry
into an agreement under the pilot program if the entity is a
private organization that--
(A) furnishes telehealth, virtual training tools
for home health aides, or other innovative services,
that slow the progression of cognitive disorders; and
(B) meets such other requirements as the Secretary
may prescribe.
(2) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities for entry
into an agreement under the pilot program, the Secretary shall
give priority to eligible entities with--
(A) demonstrated experience in providing assistance
to individuals with cognitive disorders;
(B) demonstrated experience in addressing
behavioral and temperament issues, including through
interactive engagement and stimulation solutions;
(C) demonstrated experience in caregiver or home
health aid training; and
(D) the ability to provide services under the pilot
program to veterans at locations other than a hospital,
nursing home, or other medical facility, in accordance
with subsection (d)(2).
(3) List of selected entities.--The Secretary shall--
(A) publish on an internet website of the
Department a list identifying each eligible entity with
which the Secretary has entered into an agreement under
the pilot program; and
(B) ensure such list is accessible to veterans
selected for participation in the pilot program.
(c) Limitation on Veteran Participation.--In selecting veterans for
participation in the pilot program, the Secretary shall ensure that not
more than 500 veterans participate in the pilot program at any given
time.
(d) Services: Self-Directed and In-Home Nature.--Each veteran
selected by the Secretary for participation in the pilot program--
(1) may select, from among the entities listed under
subsection (b)(3) that are accessible to the veteran, the
entity from which services shall be received by the veteran
under the pilot program; and
(2) may elect to receive services under the pilot program
at a location that is not a traditional medical setting, such
as at the residence of the veteran, in lieu of receiving such
services at a hospital, nursing home, or other medical
facility.
(e) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on the date
that is five years after the date on which the pilot program commences.
(f) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of termination
under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a
report on the pilot program. Such report shall include the following:
(1) A detailed overview of each entity with which the
Secretary has entered into an agreement under the pilot
program, and the services that entity provided to participating
veterans pursuant to such agreement.
(2) An identification of the following:
(A) The number of veterans that participated in the
pilot program.
(B) The number of veterans that applied to
participate in the pilot program but were not selected
for participation as a result of the limitation under
subsection (c)(2).
(C) Of the veterans who participated in the pilot
program, the number who, for the duration of such
participation, received services under the pilot
program.
(D) The percentage of participants (disaggregated
by type of outcome specified in clauses (i) through
(iii)) who reported that participation in the pilot
program resulted in the following outcomes, with
respect to the individual participant:
(i) Quality of life improved.
(ii) Quality of life was unaffected.
(iii) Quality of life worsened.
(E) A socioeconomic and demographic breakdown of
participants in the pilot program.
(F) Such other information as may be determined
relevant by the Secretary.
(g) Source of Funds.--Amounts required to carry out this Act shall
be derived from unobligated amounts appropriated to the Veterans Health
Administration and determined appropriate by the Secretary.
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