Improving the Lives of Children with Spina Bifida Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a three-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing contracted case management services (services) to individuals entitled to VA benefits as children of Vietnam and Korean War veterans born with spina bifida, and children of women Vietnam veterans born with certain birth defects who live in a rural area and have no access to such services through the VA or otherwise. Authorizes the Secretary to extend the program for an additional two years. Allows the services to include the coordination and management of needed health care, monetary, general care, and transportation services. Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify eligible individuals, and (2) contract with an appropriate entity for the provision of such services.
Directs the Secretary to carry out an additional pilot program (for the same period and with the same authorized extension) to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing assisted living, group home care or similar services, and transportation to the individuals described above. Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify eligible individuals, and (2) consider entering into an agreement with the appropriate service providers.
Requires preliminary and final reports with respect to, and provides funding for, each pilot program.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 832 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 832
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out pilot
programs on furnishing case management services and assisted living to
children of Vietnam veterans and certain Korea service veterans born
with spina bifida and children of women Vietnam veterans born with
certain birth defects, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 25, 2013
Mr. Donnelly introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out pilot
programs on furnishing case management services and assisted living to
children of Vietnam veterans and certain Korea service veterans born
with spina bifida and children of women Vietnam veterans born with
certain birth defects, 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 ``Improving the Lives of Children with
Spina Bifida Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON FURNISHING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO
CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS AND CERTAIN KOREA SERVICE
VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA AND CHILDREN OF WOMEN
VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH CERTAIN BIRTH DEFECTS.
(a) Pilot Program.--Commencing not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of furnishing to covered individuals case management
services under a national contract with a third party entity.
(b) Covered Individuals.--For purposes of this section, a covered
individual is any individual who--
(1) is entitled to health care or other benefits under
chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code; and
(2) lives in a rural area and does not have access to case
management services at the Department of Veterans Affairs or
otherwise.
(c) Duration.--
(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, the pilot program shall be carried out during the
three-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of
the pilot program.
(2) Continuation.--Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary
may continue the pilot program for an additional two-year
period as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(3) Termination.--The pilot program may not operate after
the date that is five years after the date of the commencement
of the pilot program.
(d) Locations.--The Secretary shall select locations in which to
carry out the pilot program from among locations that the Secretary
considers rural and where individuals who reside in such locations lack
access to comprehensive case management services through the Department
or otherwise.
(e) Scope of Services.--Under the pilot program, the Secretary
shall provide covered individuals with integrated, comprehensive
services, including the following:
(1) Coordination and management of needed health care,
monetary, and general care services authorized under chapter 18
of title 38, United States Code.
(2) Transportation services.
(3) Such other services as the Secretary considers
appropriate for the care of covered individuals under the pilot
program.
(f) Program Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary shall--
(1) inform all covered individuals of the services
available under the pilot program;
(2) enter into contracts with appropriate third party
entities for the provision of case management services under
the pilot program; and
(3) determine the appropriate number of covered individuals
to be enrolled in the pilot program and criteria for such
enrollment.
(g) Reports.--
(1) Preliminary reports.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the
date of the commencement of the pilot program and, if
the pilot program is continued under subsection (c)(2),
not later than three years after the date of the
commencement of the pilot program, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives a report on the pilot program.
(B) Contents.--Each report submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
(i) A description of the implementation and
operation of the pilot program.
(ii) The number of covered individuals
receiving benefits under the pilot program.
(iii) An analysis of the costs and benefits
under the pilot program.
(iv) An assessment of the utilization of
case management under the pilot program.
(v) The findings and conclusions of the
Secretary with respect to the pilot program.
(vi) Such recommendations for the
continuation or expansion of the pilot program
as the Secretary may have.
(2) Final report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives a report on the pilot program.
(B) Contents.--The report submitted subparagraph
(A) shall include the following:
(i) The findings and conclusions of the
Secretary with respect to the pilot program.
(ii) Such recommendations for the
continuation or expansion of the pilot program
as the Secretary may have.
(h) Funding.--Amounts to carry out the pilot program shall be
derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available before
the date of the enactment of this Act for the furnishing of care and
case management under chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON FURNISHING ASSISTED LIVING TO CHILDREN OF
VIETNAM VETERANS AND CERTAIN KOREA SERVICE VETERANS BORN
WITH SPINA BIFIDA AND CHILDREN OF WOMEN VIETNAM VETERANS
BORN WITH CERTAIN BIRTH DEFECTS.
(a) Pilot Program.--Commencing not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of providing assisted living, group home care, or similar
services in lieu of nursing home care to covered individuals.
(b) Covered Individuals.--For purposes of this section, a covered
individual is any individual who is entitled to health care or other
benefits under chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code.
(c) Duration.--
(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, the pilot program shall be carried out during the
three-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of
the pilot program.
(2) Continuation.--Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary
may continue the pilot program for an additional two-year
period as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(3) Termination.--The pilot program may not operate after
the date that is five years after the date of the commencement
of the pilot program.
(d) Scope of Services and Pilot Program.--Under the pilot program,
the Secretary shall provide covered individuals with integrated,
comprehensive services, including the following:
(1) Assisted living, group home care, or such other similar
services as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Transportation services.
(3) Such other services as the Secretary considers
appropriate for the care of covered individuals under the pilot
program.
(e) Program Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary shall--
(1) inform all covered individuals of the services
available under the pilot program;
(2) consider entering into an agreement with appropriate
providers of assisted living, group home care, or other similar
services for provision of services under the pilot program; and
(3) determine the appropriate number of covered individuals
to be enrolled in the pilot program and criteria for such
enrollment.
(f) Reports.--
(1) Preliminary reports.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the
date of the commencement of the pilot program and, if
the pilot program is continued under subsection (c)(2),
not later than three years after the date of the
commencement of the pilot program, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives a report on the pilot program.
(B) Contents.--Each report submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
(i) A description of the implementation and
operation of the pilot program.
(ii) The number of covered individuals
receiving benefits under the pilot program.
(iii) An analysis that compares the costs
of furnishing assisted living, group home care,
or similar service with the costs of furnishing
nursing home care.
(iv) An analysis of the costs and benefits
under the pilot program.
(v) The findings and conclusions of the
Secretary with respect to the pilot program.
(vi) Such recommendations for the
continuation or expansion of the pilot program
as the Secretary may have.
(2) Final report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives a report on the pilot program.
(B) Contents.--The report submitted subparagraph
(A) shall include the following:
(i) The findings and conclusions of the
Secretary with respect to the pilot program.
(ii) Such recommendations for the
continuation or expansion of the pilot program
as the Secretary may have.
(g) Funding.--Amounts to carry out the pilot program shall be
derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available before
the date of the enactment of this Act for the furnishing of nursing
home care under chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-203.
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