Bill Details
View committees (1)
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would change how the Department of Veterans Affairs handles caregiver programs for veterans. It would require the VA to officially list caregivers in a veteran’s health record, give clear written notice when a caregiver program decision is made, and provide a short transition period if a veteran loses eligibility for family caregiver benefits. The goal is to make the process clearer, more transparent, and less abrupt for veterans and the people who care for them.
- The VA would have to formally recognize caregivers in the veteran’s medical record, including both family caregivers in the main caregiver program and caregivers who receive support services.
- When the VA makes a decision about eligibility, tier changes, or ending help, it would have to send veterans and caregivers a standardized letter explaining the decision in a clear way.
- If a veteran is found no longer eligible for the family caregiver program, the VA would keep benefits going for at least 90 more days after notice is given. This would include stipends and other benefits tied to the program.
- The 90-day extension would not apply in some cases, such as fraud, abuse, or neglect; if a caregiver moves out or ends the relationship with the veteran; if a replacement caregiver is chosen within 90 days; or if the veteran or caregiver asks to stop the benefits.
Official Summaries
Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act or the TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act
The bill revises the administration of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) caregiver programs. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to formally recognize caregivers of veterans by identifying any caregiver in the health record of the veteran. Such caregivers covered by the bill include those participating in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and those participating in the Program of General Caregiver Support Services.
The bill requires the VA to notify veterans and their caregivers regarding any clinical determinations made relating to claims, tier reduction, or termination of assistance under, or eligibility for, the specified caregiver programs. The notifications must be standardized and contain specified details regarding the decisions.
The bill also requires the VA to temporarily extend benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers for at least 90 days after the receipt of notice that a veteran is no longer clinically eligible for the program. Such an extension shall not apply to the termination of caregiver benefits (1) if the VA determines the caregiver committed fraud or abused or neglected the veteran, (2) if another primary provider or individual caregiver is designated within 90 days after the termination, (3) if the terminated individual moves out or abandons their relationship with the veteran, or (4) upon request of the caregiver or veteran.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 109 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 109
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize
caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical
determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, and
temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible
for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize
caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical
determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, and
temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible
for the family caregiver program, 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 ``Transparency and Effective
Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act'' or the ``TEAM
Veteran Caregivers Act''.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATION OF CAREGIVER PROGRAM OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Official Designation of Caregivers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
formally recognize all caregivers of veterans by identifying
any caregiver of a veteran in the health record of the veteran.
(2) Inclusion.--Caregivers recognized under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) family caregivers participating in the program
of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers under
subsection (a) of section 1720G of title 38, United
States Code; and
(B) caregivers participating in the program of
support services for caregivers under subsection (b) of
such section.
(b) Notification Letters Regarding Clinical Determinations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, using a standardized
letter, shall notify veterans and caregivers of veterans
regarding any clinical determinations made relating to claims,
tier reduction, or termination of assistance under, or
eligibility for, a caregiver program under subsection (a) or
(b) of section 1720G of title 38, United States Code.
(2) Elements.--Notifications under paragraph (1) shall
include the elements required for notices of decisions under
section 5104(b) of title 38, United States Code, to the extent
that those elements apply to determinations under paragraph
(1).
(c) Temporary Extension of Benefits for Family Caregiver Program.--
(1) In general.--Upon determining that a veteran who was
receiving services under the program of comprehensive
assistance for family caregivers under subsection (a) of
section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, is no longer
clinically eligible for purposes of such program, the Secretary
shall extend benefits under such program, including stipends
under paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(V) of such subsection, for not less
than 90 days after the date of notification under subsection
(b) that the veteran is no longer clinically eligible.
(2) Exclusion.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the
termination of caregiver benefits--
(A) if the Secretary determines that the family
caregiver committed fraud or abused or neglected the
veteran;
(B) if the family caregiver was designated under
section 1720G(a)(7) of title 38, United States Code, as
the primary provider of personal care services for the
veteran and another primary provider is designated
within 90 days after the date of termination, in which
case benefits for the terminated primary provider will
terminate the day before the date on which the new
primary provider is designated;
(C) if another individual is designated to be a
family caregiver within 90 days after the date of
termination, such that there are three family
caregivers assigned to the veteran, in which case
benefits for the terminated family caregiver will
terminate the day before the date on which the new
family caregiver is designated;
(D) the terminated individual had been living with
the veteran and moves out, or the terminated individual
abandons or terminates his or her relationship with the
veteran; or
(E) upon request of the family caregiver or the
veteran.
<all>