1.Pilot program on facilitation
of transition of members of the Armed Forces to receipt of veterans health care
benefits after completion of military service
(a)
(1)The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of utilizing eligible entities to assist members of the Armed
Forces, particularly members described in paragraph (2), in applying for and
receiving health care benefits and services from the Department of Veterans
Affairs and otherwise after completion of military service in order to ensure
that such members receive a continuity of care and assistance in and after the
transition from military service to civilian life.
(2)The pilot program shall focus on providing assistance
to all members of the Armed Forces, with particular emphasis on the following
members:
(A)Members with
serious wounds or injuries.
(B)Members with
mental disorders.
(C)Women
members.
(D)Members of the
National Guard and the Reserves.
(3)Eligible entities shall provide assistance under the
pilot program through qualified individuals who provide such assistance on an
individualized basis to members of the Armed Forces described in paragraph (1)
as they transition from military service to civilian life and during the
commencement of their receipt of health care benefits and services from the
Department of Veterans Affairs and otherwise. An individual providing such
assistance may be referred to as a veteran navigator
.
(4)The
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the pilot program in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense.
(b)The pilot program shall be carried out during the
five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c)
(1)The pilot program shall be carried out at locations
selected by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for purposes of the pilot
program. Of the locations so selected—
(A)at least one
shall be in the vicinity of a military medical treatment facility (MTF) that
treats members of the Armed Forces who are seriously wounded or injured in
Afghanistan or Iraq;
(B)at least one
shall be in the vicinity of a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center
located in a rural area; and
(C)at least one
shall be in the vicinity of a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center
located in an urban area.
(2)Any locations for the pilot program that are in
addition to the locations selected under paragraph (1) shall be selected by the
Secretary in consultation with the grant application evaluation panel appointed
under subsection (f)(3).
(d)
(1)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the
pilot program through the award of grants to eligible entities for the
provision of assistance to members of the Armed Forces as described in
subsection (a).
(2)The
duration of any grant awarded under the pilot program may not exceed three
years. However, any such grant may be renewed for a period not to exceed one
year.
(e)For purposes of this subsection, an eligible entity is
any entity or organization that—
(1)is independent of
the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense; and
(2)has or can
acquire the capacity, including appropriate personnel, to provide assistance
under the pilot program as described in subsection (a).
(f)Selection of
grant recipients
(1)An
eligible entity seeking a grant under the pilot program shall submit to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs an application therefor in such form and in such
manner as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2)Each
application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A)A description of
the population of members of the Armed Forces to be provided assistance.
(B)A description of
the outreach to be conducted by the eligible entity concerned to notify members
of the Armed Forces of the availability of such assistance.
(C)If the population
of veterans described in subparagraph (A) consists of members of the Armed
Forces described in subsection (a)(2), the particular actions to be taken to
provide such assistance to such members of the Armed Forces.
(3)
(A)Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall be
evaluated by a panel appointed by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot
program.
(B)Members of the panel shall be appointed from among
individuals as follows:
(i)Officers and
employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(ii)With the
approval of the Secretary of Defense, officers and employees of the Department
of Defense.
(iii)Representatives
of veterans service organizations.
(iv)Representatives
of organizations that provide services to members of the Armed Forces.
(C)Upon
completion of the evaluation of an application under this subsection, the panel
shall recommend to the Secretary whether or not to approve the
application.
(D)No
member of the panel may evaluate an application that is submitted by an entity
with which such member is affiliated.
(4)The
Secretary shall approve or disapprove each application submitted under
paragraph (1). In determining whether to approve or disapprove an application,
the Secretary shall take into account the recommendation on such application by
the panel appointed by the Secretary under paragraph (3).
(g)
(1)Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section
shall use the grant to recruit, assign, train, and employ individuals to
provide assistance on an individualized basis to members of the Armed Forces,
particularly members described in subsection (a)(2), as they transition from
military service to civilian life and during the commencement of their receipt
of health care benefits and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs
and otherwise.
(2)Any
organization providing assistance under the pilot program shall employ
individuals who collectively—
(A)have an
understanding of the unique health care needs of members of the Armed Forces as
they transition from military service to civilian life;
(B)have an
understanding of the military medical treatment system of the Department of
Defense; and
(C)have an
understanding of eligibility for benefits and services, mechanisms for
enrollment or participation, and receipt of benefits and services in and
through various systems and programs of health care benefits and services for
veterans, including—
(i)the health care
system of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(ii)other health
care systems and programs, including health care systems and programs of other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government, State and local
governments, and other public and private entities.
(3)In providing assistance to a member of the Armed
Forces under the pilot program, an individual shall—
(A)assist the member
in identifying the unique health care needs of the member (including mental
health care);
(B)assist the member
in enrolling in the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs
after separation from military service;
(C)assist the member
in identifying and applying for any other health care benefits or services to
which the member may be entitled after military service; and
(D)assist the member
in obtaining the timely commencement of health care benefits and services from
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the timely commencement of other
veterans health care benefits and services, so that the member receives a
continuity of health care and assistance in and after the transition from
military service to civilian life.
(4)In
providing assistance to members of the Armed Forces under the pilot programs,
individuals providing such assistance shall coordinate closely with appropriate
personnel of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs
in order to—
(A)develop
relationships (including information sharing) that enhance the effectiveness of
such assistance;
(B)eliminate overlap
or duplication of effort; and
(C)otherwise
facilitate a continuity of care and assistance for such members in and after
the transition from military service to civilian life.
(5)An
eligible entity awarded a grant under the pilot program may use grant funds for
the provision of training to individuals who provide assistance under the pilot
program on matters covered by the pilot program.
(6)Each
eligible entity awarded a grant under the pilot program shall submit to the
Secretary, with such frequency as the Secretary shall specify, reports on the
activities undertaken under the pilot program. Each report of an eligible
entity shall include—
(A)a description of
the activities undertaken by such eligible entity during the period covered by
such report; and
(B)an assessment of
the effectiveness of such activities in ensuring that members of the Armed
Forces receive a continuity of care and assistance in and after the transition
from military service to civilian life.
(h)The Secretary may not award a grant under subsection (d)
to an eligible entity that is receiving federal funds for activities described
in paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection (g) on the date on which the eligible
entity submits an application subsection (f)(1) unless the Secretary determines
that the eligible entity will use amounts received under the grant to expand
services or provide new services to individuals who would not otherwise be
served.
(i)
(1)Not later than six months after the completion of the
pilot program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress
report on the pilot program.
(2)The
report shall include the following:
(A)A description of
the activities undertaken under the pilot program.
(B)An assessment of
the effectiveness of such activities in ensuring that members of the Armed
Forces receive a continuity of care and assistance in and after the transition
from military service to civilian life.
(C)Such
recommendations for legislative or administrative action, including action to
extend, expand, or make permanent the pilot program, as the Secretary considers
appropriate in light of the pilot program.
(j)Authorization
of appropriations
(1)There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department
of Veterans Affairs to carry out this section, amounts as follows:
(A)For fiscal year
2008, $2,000,000.
(B)For fiscal year
2009, $5,000,000.
(C)For fiscal year
2010, $8,000,000.
(D)For fiscal year
2011, $6,500,000.
(E)For fiscal year
2012, $3,500,000.
(2)Any
amount authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) shall remain available
for obligation through the end of fiscal year 2012.