[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2818 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 837
110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 2818


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 25, 2008

            Received; read twice and placed on the calendar

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment 
of epilepsy centers of excellence in the Veterans Health Administration 
                 of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    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 ``Veterans' Epilepsy Treatment Act of 
2008''.

SEC. 2. EPILEPSY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    (a) Requirement for Establishment of Epilepsy Centers of 
Excellence.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7330A. Epilepsy centers of excellence
    ``(a) Designation of Centers.--Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall designate an 
epilepsy center of excellence at each of the 5 centers designated under 
section 7327.
    ``(b) Expert Clinical and Research Staff.--Each center designated 
under subsection (a) shall employ such expert clinical and research 
staff, including board certified neurologists and neurosurgeons, as may 
be necessary to ensure that such center is capable of serving as a 
center of excellence in research, education, and clinical care 
activities in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, including post-
traumatic epilepsy.
    ``(c) Requirements and Operation of Centers.--Each center 
designated under subsection (a) shall function as a center for--
            ``(1) research on the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term 
        effects of epilepsy, including epilepsy developed as a result 
        of combat, in order to support the provision of services for 
        such diagnosis and treatment in accordance with the most 
        current information on epilepsy;
            ``(2) the development of evidence-based methodologies for 
        treating individuals with epilepsy;
            ``(3) the continuous and consistent coordination of care 
        from the point of referral throughout the diagnostic and 
        treatment process and ongoing follow-up after return to home 
        and community;
            ``(4) the development of a national system of coordinated 
        care for veterans with epilepsy, including the development and 
        maintenance of a national network of Department health care 
        personnel with an interest and expertise in the care and 
        treatment of epilepsy and the establishment of a referral 
        system and procedure within each Veterans Integrated Service 
        Network;
            ``(5) assist in the expansion, where appropriate, of the 
        utilization of telehealth technology, including exploring the 
        use of such technology to develop, transmit, monitor, and 
        review neurological diagnostic tests and other applicable uses 
        of telehealth technology for the diagnosis, care, and treatment 
        of veterans with epilepsy; and
            ``(6) the dissemination of educational materials and 
        research regarding diagnosis, care, and treatment of epilepsy, 
        throughout the Department.
    ``(d) Administration.--In order to assist the Secretary in carrying 
out this section, the Secretary shall designate a national coordinator 
for epilepsy programs who shall report to the official responsible for 
neurology at the Veterans Health Administration and shall--
            ``(1) supervise the operation of the centers designated 
        under this section;
            ``(2) coordinate and support the national network of 
        Department health care professionals with an interest and 
        expertise in the care and treatment of epilepsy;
            ``(3) ensure that the education and research mission of 
        such centers is being accomplished; and
            ``(4) conduct regular evaluations of such centers to ensure 
        compliance with the requirements of this section.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2009 through 2013.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
7330 the following new item:

``7330A. Epilepsy centers of excellence.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 24, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.
                                                       Calendar No. 837

110th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 2818

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment 
of epilepsy centers of excellence in the Veterans Health Administration 
                 of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             June 25, 2008

            Received; read twice and placed on the calendar