“A bill to expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section extends eligibility for VA medical care (provided on a CHAMPUS basis) under the family caregiver program (i.e., Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers under 38 U.S.C. §1720G) to primary providers of personal care services for an additional 180 days following removal of their designation, unless dismissed for fraud, abuse, or mistreatment (previously, eligibility required current designation). It also excludes such caregivers from this extended coverage if entitled to Medicare Part A hospital insurance benefits during that period.
This section amends the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)—which provides stipends, health care, counseling, training, and other support to family caregivers of eligible veterans with serious service-connected injuries requiring personal care services—by adding a new subsection on employment assistance for those designated as primary providers of personal care services. Such assistance includes reimbursement of up to $1,000 lifetime for certification or relicensure fees; free access to VA training modules for continuing professional education credit; and, in consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Labor, access to the Military OneSource program, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, and appropriate VA programs. Primary caregivers may access this assistance while in PCAFC and for 180 days thereafter (unless dismissed for fraud, abuse, or mistreatment). The section further (1) expands available counseling, training, and rehabilitation services to include retirement planning and, for 180 days post-program (unless dismissed for cause), transition support; (2) adds workforce reentry assistance upon program discharge (unless dismissed for cause); and (3) includes bereavement counseling and support following an eligible veteran's death. Additionally, this section directs the VA Secretary, in partnership with the DOL Secretary, to complete by one year post-enactment a study on the feasibility and advisability of a returnship program for former primary caregivers to aid workforce reentry, with a report to the congressional veterans' affairs committees within 180 days of completion. Separately, the VA Secretary must complete by one year post-enactment a study on barriers and incentives to hiring former primary caregivers into VA facilities to address staffing needs, with a report within 180 days of completion that includes a hiring plan and legislative or administrative recommendations.
This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress, not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, a report assessing the Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts to support family caregivers under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (38 U.S.C. §1720G(a))—which provides stipends, training, counseling, and other services to caregivers of eligible veterans with serious service-connected injuries—in transitioning away from caregiving through retirement planning or returning to work.
This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and other relevant entities, to submit to Congress not later than one year after enactment of this Act a report on the feasibility and advisability of (1) establishing an individual retirement plan or similar retirement plan for family caregivers under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (38 U.S.C. § 1720G(a)), which provides stipends, training, and other support to caregivers of eligible post-9/11 veterans; or (2) permitting such caregivers to join an existing retirement savings pathway.