TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act

Summary

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.

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>