I 108th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5244 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 7, 2004 Mr. Evans (for himself, Mr. Filner, Mr. Gutierrez, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Michaud, Ms. Hooley of Oregon, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mrs. Davis of California, Ms. Herseth, Mr. Baird, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Mr. Emanuel, Mr. Stenholm, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Abercrombie, and Mr. Larson of Connecticut) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To improve programs for the identification and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans and members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Comprehensive Assistance for Veterans Exposed to Traumatic Stressors Act of 2004. (b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents Sec. 2. Definition Title I—Veterans of Past Deployments Sec. 101. Extension of eligibility for readjustment counseling services for Vietnam-era veterans Title II—Military Issues Sec. 201. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund Sec. 202. Collection of aggregate data from pre- and post-deployment health assessments Sec. 203. Telemedicine support for front-line Department of Defense providers Title III—Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment for Returning Troops Sec. 301. Study to identify factors that decrease the likelihood of the development of chronic PTSD despite combat exposure Sec. 302. Extension of period of enhanced eligibility for VA health services for veterans who served in combat theater of operations Sec. 303. Department of Veterans Affairs to participate in all demobilizations and Transitional Assistance Program activities Sec. 304. Educational materials Sec. 305. Demonstration project to station Department of Veterans Affairs psychologists and psychiatrists at major demobilization sites and military treatment facilities Sec. 306. Model care plan for integrated mental health and a primary care model for PTSD practice Sec. 307. Performance measures for Department of Veterans Affairs health care administrators Title IV—Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Council on Post-Deployment Mental Health Sec. 401. Establishment of Council Sec. 402. Duties of Council Title V—Capacity Building in Department of Veterans Affairs Sec. 501. Plan for expansion of Department of Veterans Affairs system to expand access to specialized PTSD care Sec. 502. Additional Department of Veterans Affairs resources Title VI—Family Therapy Sec. 601. Eligibility period for counseling and bereavement counseling Title VII—Educational Initiatives Sec. 701. Training program for health-care providers Sec. 702. Curriculum and protocols for cross-training of Department of Veterans Affairs clinicians Sec. 703. Publication of state-of-the-art PTSD diagnosis and treatment Sec. 704. Protocols for pain management for PTSD and war-related pain Sec. 705. Case management techniques for VA PTSD clinicians Title VIII—National Steering Committee on PTSD Education Sec. 801. National Steering Committee Sec. 802. Funding support for National Center for PTSD Sec. 803. Continuing education to mental health providers Sec. 804. Web-based curriculum to sponsor clinician training initiatives Title IX—Benefits Sec. 901. Identification of deficiencies in PTSD disability examinations Sec. 902. Criteria for determining medical conditions associated with PTSD Title X—Public Awareness Sec. 1001. Public awareness program Sec. 1002. Web site and materials for general campaign of awareness of PTSD

2.

Definition

In this Act, the term PTSD means post-traumatic stress disorder.