Veterans' Compensation and Benefits Improvements Act of 1986

(Measure indefinitely postponed in Senate, H. R. 5299 passed in lieu)

Omnibus Veterans' Benefits Improvement and Health Care Authorization Act of 1986 - Title I: Compensation and Other Benefit Programs - Part A: Benefits - Requires the Administrator of Veterans Affairs (the Administrator) to provide for increases in the rates of and limitations on Veterans Administration disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation to the same extent that benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act are increased effective December 1, 1986.

Establishes a presumption of service-connection for disability purposes for former prisoners of war suffering from the following conditions, manifest to a degree of ten percent or more after active service: (1) organic residuals of frostbite; (2) arthritis resulting from trauma; or (3) irritable bowel syndrome if the veteran is suffering from a service-connected compensable psychiatric disability.

Extends through FY 1989 the pilot program of providing independent living services and assistance to certain eligible veterans. Requires the Administrator to report to the congressional Veterans' Affairs Committees by February 1, 1989, on veterans' participation in such program during FY 1987 and 1988.

Amend veterans' benefits provisions to extend from September 30, 1986, to September 30, 1988, the period of time during which veterans readjustment appointments (noncompetitive civil service position appointments) may be made for Vietnam veterans.

Part B: Benefit Program Administration - Amends Federal law relating to foreclosure of veterans' home loans to prohibit the Administrator from accepting conveyance of a property from the holder of a defaulted loan unless the Administrator is likely to be able to sell such property within one year for a price which would be economically advantageous to the United States.

Prohibits a veteran from concurrently receiving educational assistance benefits under the general educational assistance programs for veterans and under the Hostage Relief Act of 1980.

Repeals the requirements that veterans of World War II and the Korean conflict must be represented on the Administrator's Advisory Committee on Education.

Authorizes the Administrator, in certain instances, to require the disclosure of financial information by Federal fiduciaries of veterans or their minors or incompetents.

Authorizes the Administrator to undertake, without regard to a certain congressional notice and waiting period requirement, the administrative reorganization of the Office of Administration.

Authorizes the Administrator to collect certain debts owed to the Veterans Administration (VA) by veterans through offset of compensation or pension payable to such veterans under laws administered by the VA. Requires such funds to be credited to the Department of Defense military retirement fund.

Title II: Health Care - Part A: Health Care Programs - Defines "home health services" in the case of services furnished to a veteran in other than a VA facility or the veteran's home to include services furnished to a veteran in any setting in which the veteran is residing except for structural improvements or alterations. Authorizes the Administrator to contract with non-VA facilities to furnish such home health services under certain circumstances.

Authorizes the Administrator to contract for care and treatment and rehabilitative services in halfway houses, therapeutic communities, psychiatric residential treatment centers, and other community-based treatment facilities for the care of eligible veterans suffering from chronic mental illness disabilities. Requires the Administrator to approve the quality and effectiveness of such program before entering into a contract for such care. Requires the Administrator to designate a VA employee to provide case management services for each veteran provided care and services under this provision. Sets forth the order of priority for providing such care to eligible veterans. Authorizes the Administrator to contract to provide in-kind assistance under this provision. Requires the VA to receive full reimbursement from the contract facility for any such in-kind assistance provided. Directs the Administrator, no later than one year after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees concerning the provision of such services.

Authorizes the Administrator, beginning on October 1, 1986, and ending on September 30, 1990, to conduct a pilot program to furnish respite care services to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities. Defines "respite care." Requires the Administrator to conduct a study concerning the furnishing of such care, and to submit the results of such study, together with any recommendations, to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees no later than February 1, 1990.

Directs the VA, beginning on January 1, 1987, and ending on December 31, 1990, to conduct a pilot program under which certain veterans will be furnished medical, rehabilitative, and health-related care in noninstitutional settings at not less than five nor more than ten demonstration project sites. Gives priorities for selecting veterans to such program. Outlines certain administrative actions to be taken in order to provide such services, including the providing of case management services by the VA for each veteran furnished such services. Authorizes the Administrator to furnish in-kind assistance to facilities furnishing services to veterans under these provisions. Prohibits the total cost of conducting the pilot program from exceeding 60 percent of the cost incurred by the VA if the VA had instead furnished such services. Requires the Administrator to report on the operation of the program during its first 36 months, to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees no later than April 1, 1990.

Includes as a veterans' medical benefit medical services necessary to overcome a service-connected disability which impairs the veterans' procreative ability, if the veteran applies for such services before October 1, 1989. Requires the Administrator to report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees by February 1, 1989, in the provision of such services.

Includes as a veterans' benefit the continued counseling services for a deceased veteran's family member for up to six months following the: (1) unexpected death of the veteran; or (2) death of the veteran while the veteran was participating in a VA hospice program.

Makes veterans eligible for domiciliary care if such veteran: (1) has a service-connected disability; or (2) is incapacitated with no means of support.

Extends until September 30, 1989, the authority of the Administrator to contract for medical care for veterans in the Philippines. Requires the grants made under such authority to be made on a biannual basis. Prohibits the payment of such a grant unless the Administrator has first submitted to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the preceding biannual payment and an accounting of the uses made of such payment.

Provides that the per-diem subsidies paid by the VA for the care of veterans in State homes shall not be used to offset payments made to such homes under title XIX (Medicaid) for the purpose of assisting eligible veterans.

Extends through September 30, 1989, the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Counseling Program. Requires the Administrator's report to the Veterans Affairs Committees on the effectiveness of such program to give particular attention to whatever information is available from a specified study on Vietnam veterans' post-war psychological problems. Requires such report to include the Administrator's analysis and recommendations as to whether World War II or Korean veterans could benefit from services provided under the Vietnam Veterans' Readjustment Counseling Program.

Requires the Administrator's report on plans to carry out such program to include the results of the study on Vietnam veterans' post-war psychological problems, (or if such study is incomplete, whatever information from it is then available).

Requires the Administrator, by February 1, 1989, to report to the Veterans Affairs Committees on: (1) the way the transition from providing readjustment counseling primarily in non-VA facilities to providing such services primarily at VA facilities was carried out before September 30, 1988; (2) based on that evaluation, the results of the study on Vietnam veterans' post-war psychological problems (or whatever information is available from such study); and (3) the Administrator's opinion as to the extent of the need to provide such services at non-VA facilities.

Amends the Veterans' Health Care Amendments of 1983 to extend the deadline for the Administrator's study of Vietnam veterans post-war psychological problems until October 1, 1987. Requires the Administrator to pay a stipend to participants in such study.

Part B: Health Care Administration - Requires VA police officers to enforce State and local traffic laws (currently, only Federal law is enforced) on VA property.

Requires the Administrator to establish and maintain a record to be known as the Ionizing Radiation Registry containing hospital histories and medical data of each veteran exposed to ionizing radiation. Requires the Administrator to establish the Registry not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act.

Provides the authority to waive: (1) a licensing or certification requirement for a VA psychologist for two years if such psychologist provides patient care only under the supervision of a licensed or certified psychologist; and (2) an internship licensing, or certification requirement for a VA research psychologist who has no responsibility for providing patient-care services.

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require non-Federal hospitals which receive Medicare payments to accept as payment for VA fee-basis patients the rate established by regulations jointly issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the Congress periodically on the number of hospitals that have terminated or failed to renew a health care provider agreement because of the additional conditions imposed by this Act. Requires the Administrator to report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees by April 1, 1987, on the implementation of the requirement established in this paragraph. Requires the Administrator to notify such committees if a hospital terminates or fails to renew a health care provider agreement because of such requirement.

Revises the provisions relating to the organization of the Office of the Chief Medical Director (the Office) of the VA Department of Medicine and Surgery to require that all individuals appointed to positions in the Office shall be qualified in the administration of health services. Provides that there shall be two Associate Deputy Chief Medical Directors, both of whom shall be persons with specified qualification, relating to business and administrative experience. Requires all the Assistant Chief Medical Directors to be persons with specified qualifications. Provides that not more than two Assistant Chief Medical Directors may be persons with specified qualifications solely by reason of having business or administrative experience. Requires all such Medical Directors to be persons with specified qualifications.

Provides that the Director of Nursing Service shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Chief Medical Director.

Requires the Directors of Pharmacy Service, Dietetic Service, Podiatric Service, and Optometric Service to be licensed in the appropriate service field and to be appointed upon recommendation of the Chief Medical Director.

Defines "person with specified qualifications."

Authorizes the Administrator to employ in the Office certified or registered respiratory therapists, licensed physical therapists, licensed practical or vocational nurses: (1) on a temporary full-time, part-time, or without compensation basis; and (2) on a fee basis. Authorizes the Administrator to make temporary full-time appointments of such personnel for more than 90 days if the Chief Medical Director finds that other methods of obtaining the necessary services are impractical. Authorizes the Administrator to make part-time appointments of such personnel for periods of more than one year.

Requires the Administrator to report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, on the plans of the Department of Medicine and Surgery for the development, establishment, and administration of a national drug file, including an agency-wide reclassification and inventory system for all drugs used by the VA.

Part C: Medical Facility Construction and Planning - Authorizes the Administrator to undertake the construction, alteration, and acquisition of adequate parking facilities at VA medical facilities and establishes fees for the use of such parking facilities. Prohibits a fee from being charged for the accommodation of any vehicle used to transport: (1) a veteran to or from any medical facility for examination or treatment; or (2) a volunteer worker at such facility in connection with such worker performing services at such facility. Authorizes appropriations for the construction, operation, and maintenance of such parking facilities. Requires such authorized appropriations and any parking fees collected to be placed in a revolving fund. Prohibits, with specified exceptions, funds other than funds from the revolving fund from being used to construct, alter, or acquire a parking facility at a medical facility after September 30, 1986.

Requires the Administrator to include in any prospectus proposing the construction of a facility the consideration that was given to sharing health-care resources with the Department of Defense as an alternative to the construction, purchase, or lease of such facility.

Extends the authorization of appropriations through FY 1989 for grants for the construction of State veterans' home facilities.

Requires the Administrator to determine the priority in the making of grants to States for State veterans' homes construction projects. Directs the Administrator to develop regulations to govern such priority. Requires the Administrator, within 180 days of enactment of this Act to publish proposed regulations in the Federal Register. Requires the Administrator to publish the final regulations in the Federal Register within 270 days of enactment of this Act.

Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals the requirement of an annual report by the Administrator to the Congress on grants of equitable relief.

Eliminates the requirement of an annual report by the Administrator to the Congress on the provision of contract of dental care if certain conditions are met.

Requires the report on special pay for VA physicians and dentists to be required once every three years.

Requires the Administrator to report annually to the Congress on the activities out in sharing specialized medical resources with non-VA hospitals.

Repeals the requirement for an annual report on the Exchange of Medical Information Program.

Limits the extent of the contract authorities provided by this Act to the amount of appropriations provided in other Act.