II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2753 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 4, 2006 Mr. Akaka introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require a program to improve the provision of caregiver assistance services for veterans.

1.

Improvement of services for caregivers of veterans

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program to expand and improve the services that assist caregivers of veterans, including veterans of the Global War on Terrorism. (b)

Caregiver Assistance Services

For purposes of this section, the term caregiver assistance services includes the following: (1)Adult-day health care services. (2)Coordination of services needed by veterans, including services for readjustment and rehabilitation. (3)Transportation services. (4)Caregiver support services, including education, training, and certification of family members in caregiver activities. (5)Home care services. (6)Respite care. (7)Hospice services. (8)Any modalities of non-institutional long-term care. (c)

Funding

(1)

Source of funds

In carrying out the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall identify, from funds available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical care, an amount not less than $10,000,000 to be available to carry out the program and to be allocated to facilities of the Department pursuant to subsection (d). (2)

Minimum allocation of funds

In identifying available amounts pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that, after the allocation of funds under subsection (d), the total expenditure for programs in support of caregiver assistance services for veterans is not less than $10,000,000 in excess of the baseline amount. (3)

Baseline amount

For purposes of paragraph (2), the baseline amount is the amount of the total expenditures on programs in support of caregiver assistance services for veterans for the most recent fiscal year for which final expenditure amounts are known, adjusted to reflect any subsequent increase in applicable costs to support such services through the Veterans Health Administration. (d)

Allocation of funds to Facilities

The Secretary shall allocate funds identified pursuant to subsection (c)(1) to individual medical facilities of the Department in such amounts as the Secretary determines appropriate based upon proposals submitted by such facilities for the use of such funds for improvements to the support of the provision of caregiver assistance services for veterans. Special consideration should be given to rural facilities, including those without a long-term care facility of the Department. (e)

Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section. The report shall include information on the allocation of funds to facilities of the Department under subsection (d) and a description of the improvements made with funds so allocated to the support of the provision of caregiver assistance services for veterans.