[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 585 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 585
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a pre-transition
health care registration process to facilitate enrollment in the
patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs by
members of the Armed Forces who are separating from the Armed Forces,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 13, 2025
Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Cramer, and Ms. Duckworth)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a pre-transition
health care registration process to facilitate enrollment in the
patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs by
members of the Armed Forces who are separating from the Armed Forces,
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 ``Servicemember to Veteran Health Care
Connection Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. PRE-TRANSITION HEALTH CARE REGISTRATION OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES TO STREAMLINE RECEIPT OF HEALTH CARE FROM
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Health Care Pre-Registration.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1705A
the following new section:
``Sec. 1705B. Management of health care: registration in pre-transition
system and facilitation of enrollment
``(a) Pre-Transition System.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days before the
anticipated separation from the Armed Forces of a member of the
Armed Forces, the Secretary shall automatically register such
member in the pre-transition health care registration system.
``(2) Registration.--Registration of a member of the Armed
Forces in the pre-transition health care registration system
under paragraph (1) shall consist of the entry of relevant
information of such member into such system so as to facilitate
and permit, at a future date, a final determination with
respect to the enrollment of such member in the patient
enrollment system if such member elects to enroll in the
patient enrollment system and is eligible to enroll in the
patient enrollment system.
``(b) Facilitation of Enrollment in Patient Enrollment System.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after separation
of a covered individual from the Armed Forces, or as soon as
feasibly possible following such separation, the Secretary
shall engage with such individual--
``(A) to assist and facilitate the completion of
the process for enrollment of such individual in the
patient enrollment system, to include the appropriate
electronic or paper forms; and
``(B) to schedule an initial primary care or other
health appointment for such individual under the laws
administered by the Secretary if the individual is
interested in such an appointment.
``(2) Communication efforts.--Communication to a covered
individual under paragraph (1) shall be conducted through a
combination of effective mechanisms to include by electronic
means through email and text message, paper mail, and by phone.
``(3) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the
term `covered individual' means an individual who--
``(A) is eligible for or expected to be eligible
for enrollment in the patient enrollment system; and
``(B) is not yet enrolled in such system.
``(c) Outreach.--
``(1) Pre-transition.--
``(A) In general.--To the greatest extent feasible,
the Secretary shall conduct timely outreach to members
of the Armed Forces registered in the pre-transition
health care registration system, in advance of their
separation from the Armed Forces, to explain--
``(i) what such registration means in
practical terms;
``(ii) what steps each such member will
need to take after separation from the Armed
Forces to fully enroll, if eligible, in the
patient enrollment system;
``(iii) health care services that may be
available to such member upon enrollment in
such system, including the general rules of
eligibility for such services;
``(iv) health care services that may be
available to such member regardless of
enrollment in such system, including counseling
for military sexual trauma and services from
Vet Centers (as defined in section 1712A of
this title), including the general rules of
eligibility for such services; and
``(v) the steps required to access services
described in clauses (iii) and (iv).
``(B) Outreach efforts.--Outreach to a member of
the Armed Forces required under subparagraph (A) shall
be conducted through a combination of effective
mechanisms, including by electronic means through email
and text message, paper mail, and by phone.
``(2) After enrollment.--
``(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once
during the 180-day period following the enrollment of
an individual in the patient enrollment system, the
Secretary shall contact any such individual who has not
scheduled a primary care appointment or other health
appointment under the laws administered by the
Secretary and offer to schedule such appointment should
such individual be interested in doing so.
``(B) Conduct of outreach.--The Secretary may
conduct outreach under subparagraph (A) as part of the
Solid Start program under section 6320 of this title,
other existing processes of the Department, or any new
process as the Secretary determines appropriate.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Patient enrollment system.--The term `patient
enrollment system' means the system of annual patient
enrollment of the Department established and operated under
section 1705(a) of this title.
``(2) Pre-transition health care registration system.--The
term `pre-transition health care registration system' means an
information technology or other system or systems of the
Department in which the Department enters or stores the
relevant information of a transitioning member of the Armed
Forces so as to facilitate and permit, at a future date, a
final enrollment determination with respect to the enrollment
of such member in the patient enrollment system.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1705A the following new item:
``1705B. Management of health care: registration in pre-transition
system and facilitation of enrollment.''.
(3) Effective date.--This subsection and the amendments
made by this subsection shall take effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act and apply to any member of the Armed
Forces who is anticipated to separate from the Armed Forces on
and after the date that is one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(b) Establishment of System.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish
and implement an automated process to implement the pre-
transition health care registration system required under
section 1705B(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a)(1).
(2) Briefings on initial implementation.--Not later than
each of 180 days, one year, and two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs-
Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee established
under section 320 of title 38, United States Code, shall
provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a briefing on
the implementation of the process required under paragraph (1).
(c) Coordination With Department of Defense.--
(1) In general.--In implementing the requirements of this
section and the amendments made by this section, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs may integrate and coordinate such
implementation with the Solid Start program of the Department
of Veterans Affairs under section 6320 of title 38, United
States Code, other existing processes of the Department, or any
new process as the Secretary determines appropriate to ensure
collaboration and coordination with relevant programs of the
Department of Defense.
(2) Inclusion in transition assistance program.--On and
after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall include an
explanation of the pre-transition health care registration
system required under section 1705B of title 38, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), as part of the Transition
Assistance Program of the Department of Defense.
(d) Requirement to Create and Maintain Simple and Streamlined
Process for Pre-Registration and Enrollment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
make enrollment in the patient enrollment system, including
pre-transition health care registration under section 1705B of
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), a
simple and streamlined process for all transitioning members of
the Armed Forces and veterans--
(A) to facilitate access to and utilization of
services from the Department of Veterans Affairs to
which such individuals are entitled;
(B) to ensure such individuals have a healthy and
smooth transition out of the Armed Forces into civilian
life as veterans;
(C) to support the mental and physical health of
such individuals; and
(D) to reduce, to the greatest extent possible,
veteran suicide.
(2) Improvement of process.--The Secretary shall
continuously monitor, improve, and modernize the process
described in paragraph (1).
(e) Outreach and Engagement.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall--
(1) proactively conduct outreach to transitioning and
recently transitioned members of the Armed Forces to assist
such members in enrolling in the patient enrollment system;
(2) proactively and regularly engage with veterans already
enrolled in the patient enrollment system to offer assistance
in accessing health care services under such system;
(3) proactively and regularly engage with veterans who may
not be eligible for enrollment in the patient enrollment system
but may be eligible to access certain specific health services
of the Department;
(4) proactively engage with veterans from traditionally
under-represented groups, to include women veterans, minority
veterans, Native American veterans, Native Hawaiian veterans,
Alaska Native veterans, and LGBTQIA+ veterans; and
(5) engage with veterans who are eligible but not enrolled
in the patient enrollment system and offer information and
assistance regarding the steps to facilitate enrollment in such
system.
(f) Annual Report on Pre-Transition Registration.--Section
8111(f)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as
subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraph (E):
``(E) With respect to the registration of members of the
Armed Forces in the pre-transition health care registration
system under section 1705B of this title during the preceding
fiscal year, the following:
``(i) The number of members of the Armed Forces who
were registered in such system.
``(ii) The number of such members who subsequently
applied for enrollment in the system of annual patient
enrollment of the Department established and operated
under section 1705(a) of this title.
``(iii) The aggregated disposition of each such
application for enrollment, whether denied or approved,
and a reason for any denial, if available.
``(iv) Aggregated demographic information for
members of the Armed Forces described in clauses (i)
and (ii), including age, gender, ethnicity, length of
service, military rank, and branch of service.
``(v) Any information on health care utilization
rates based on registration in the pre-transition
health care registration system under section 1705B of
this title that the Secretary considers relevant.
``(vi) Any additional observations or information
the Secretary considers relevant regarding the impact
of pre-transition health care registration on
streamlining and improving the transition from the
Armed Forces to civilian life.''.
(g) Reports.--
(1) Report on feasibility and advisability of permitting
members of the armed forces to receive pre-separation health
appointment with department of veterans affairs.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense, shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on the feasibility and advisability
of permitting transitioning members of the Armed
Forces, including those on separation leave, while
still on active duty, to receive at least one no-cost
health care appointment at a facility of the Department
of Veterans Affairs--
(i) to familiarize the member with the
health services of the Department prior to the
member leaving the Armed Forces; and
(ii) to improve the transition process and
health and wellness of the member once they
have transitioned to civilian life.
(B) Elements.--The report required under
subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
(i) A description of the reasons the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs has determined
the policy described in such subparagraph is
feasible and advisable or not.
(ii) An identification of changes to law
that would be required or recommended to make
such policy feasible and advisable.
(iii) If the Secretary determines such
policy is feasible and advisable, a proposed
schedule and timeline to implement such policy
and an estimate of costs to implement and
sustain such policy.
(iv) Such other information as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Report on efforts to improve enrollment.--Not later
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report containing the following:
(A) An assessment of the efforts of the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs as follows:
(i) To develop and implement a system or
systems, and processes to implement such a
system or systems, to notify veterans who
receive a positive adjudication for a service-
connected disability and are not already
enrolled in the patient enrollment system
regarding how to enroll in the patient
enrollment system, should they be inclined to
enroll.
(ii) To pre-populate information in the
pre-transition health care registration system
required under section 1705B of title 38,
United States Code, as added by subsection
(a)(1), using data available within the
Department of Veterans Affairs, other Federal
agencies, or State agencies or other
appropriate commercial or publicly available
information so as to assist transitioning
members of the Armed Forces with completing the
process of enrollment in the patient enrollment
system, and to simplify and streamline
enrollment in such system, including--
(I) a description of any roadblocks
to pre-populating such information;
(II) a description of any
challenges in receiving relevant
information from any Federal agency or
State agency; and
(III) an identification of any
legislative action that may be required
to improve the collection of data
necessary to carry out this clause.
(B) An assessment of any challenges experienced by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in receiving timely
and reliable electronic information, data feeds, and
notifications from the Department of Defense, other
Federal agencies, or non-Federal entities regarding the
separation from the Armed Forces of members of the
Armed Forces, including--
(i) specific requests for legislative
action to improve data transmission from the
Department of Defense or other Federal agencies
to the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(ii) a description of policy reforms to
require the military departments to report to
the Secretary of Defense known or anticipated
separations in a more timely manner.
(C) The identification of an individual in a Senior
Executive Service position (as defined in section
3132(a) of title 5, United States Code), or equivalent,
and office within the Department of Veterans Affairs
that is coordinating or will coordinate all programs of
the Department relating to improving the registration
and enrollment of transitioning or transitioned members
of the Armed Forces in health care services of the
Department (including pursuant to this section and the
amendments made by this section) and the usage by such
members of those services, to include the following
programs and offices:
(i) The Solid Start program of the
Department under section 6320 of title 38,
United States Code.
(ii) The Federal Recovery Consultant Office
of the Department.
(iii) The Post-9/11 Military2VA Case
Management Program of the Department.
(iv) The Liaison Program of the Department.
(v) The Concierge for Care Program of the
Department.
(vi) The office of the Department
responsible for carrying out the pre-transition
health care registration system under section
1705B of title 38, United States Code, as added
by subsection (a)(1).
(vii) Other similar or successor programs
or offices of the Department.
(D) A description of how the individual and office
identified under subparagraph (C) manages or will
manage various programs across the Department, to
include--
(i) programs under the Veterans Health
Administration, Veterans Benefits
Administration, and other entities of the
Department that have different reporting
chains;
(ii) an identification of metrics that are
used or will be used to monitor program goals;
(iii) an identification of steps that can
be taken to improve management and outcomes of
such programs, to include collaboration and
coordination with relevant programs of the
Department of Defense; and
(iv) an organizational chart to show how
efforts described under this subparagraph are
managed across the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or the
amendments made by this section shall be construed to require any
member of the Armed Forces, former member of the Armed Forces, or
veteran to use any service of the Department of Veterans Affairs or to
enroll in the patient enrollment system.
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the
Committee on Veterans Affairs' of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the
Committee on Veterans Affairs' of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Patient enrollment system.--The term ``patient
enrollment system'' means the system of annual patient
enrollment of the Department established and operated under
section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code.
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