[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1211 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1211

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health 
care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in 
   Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 26, 2009

Ms. Herseth Sandlin (for herself, Mr. Moran of Kansas, Mr. Boozman, Ms. 
 Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. 
  Boswell, Mr. Wu, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. McDermott, and Mr. Bishop of New 
    York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health 
care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in 
   Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Women Veterans 
Health Care Improvement Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
  TITLE I--STUDIES AND ASSESSMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS

Sec. 101. Study of barriers for women veterans to health care from the 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 102. Comprehensive assessment of women's health care programs of 
                            the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  TITLE II--IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS OF THE 
           DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR WOMEN VETERANS

Sec. 201. Medical care for newborn children of women veterans receiving 
                            maternity care.
Sec. 202. Training and certification for mental health care providers 
                            of the Department of Veterans Affairs on 
                            care for veterans suffering from sexual 
                            trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sec. 203. Pilot program for provision of child care assistance to 
                            certain veterans receiving certain types of 
                            health care services at Department 
                            facilities.
Sec. 204. Addition of recently separated women and minority veterans to 
                            serve on advisory committees.

  TITLE I--STUDIES AND ASSESSMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS

SEC. 101. STUDY OF BARRIERS FOR WOMEN VETERANS TO HEALTH CARE FROM THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a comprehensive study of the barriers to the provision of 
comprehensive health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
encountered by women who are veterans. In conducting the study, the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) survey women veterans who seek or receive hospital care 
        or medical services provided by the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs as well as women veterans who do not seek or receive 
        such care or services;
            (2) build on the work of the study of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs entitled ``National Survey of Women Veterans 
        in Fiscal Year 2007-2008'';
            (3) administer the survey to a representative sample of 
        women veterans from each Veterans Integrated Service Network; 
        and
            (4) ensure that the sample of women veterans surveyed is of 
        sufficient size for the study results to be statistically 
        significant and is a larger sample than that of the study of 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs entitled ``National Survey 
        of Women Veterans in Fiscal Year 2007-2008''.
    (b) Elements of Study.--In conducting the study required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct 
research on the effects of the following on the women veterans surveyed 
in the study:
            (1) The perceived stigma associated with seeking mental 
        health care services.
            (2) The effect of driving distance or availability of other 
        forms of transportation to the nearest medical facility on 
        access to care.
            (3) The availability of child care.
            (4) The acceptability of integrated primary care, women's 
        health clinics, or both.
            (5) The comprehension of eligibility requirements for, and 
        the scope of services available under, hospital care and 
        medical services.
            (6) The perception of the personal safety and comfort of 
        women veterans in inpatient, outpatient, and behavioral health 
        facilities of the Department.
            (7) The gender sensitivity of health care providers and 
        staff to issues that particularly affect women.
            (8) The effectiveness of outreach for health care services 
        available to women veterans.
            (9) The location and operating hours of health care 
        facilities that provide services to women veterans.
            (10) Such other significant barriers as the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs may identify.
    (c) Authority To Enter Into Contracts.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity 
or organization to carry out the studies and research required under 
this section.
    (d) Mandatory Review of Data by Certain Divisions Within the 
Department.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        ensure that the head of each division of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs specified in paragraph (2) reviews the results 
        of the study conducted under this section. The head of each 
        such division shall submit findings with respect to the study 
        to the Under Secretary for Health and to other pertinent 
        program offices within the Department of Veterans Affairs with 
        duties relating to health care services for women veterans.
            (2) Specified divisions of the department.--The divisions 
        of the Department of Veterans Affairs specified in this 
        paragraph are--
                    (A) the Center for Women Veterans, established 
                under section 318 of title 38, United States Code; and
                    (B) the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, 
                established under section 542 of title 38, United 
                States Code.
    (e) Reports.--
            (1) Report on implementation.--Not later than 6 months 
        after the date on which the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        publishes a final report on the study entitled ``National 
        Survey of Women Veterans in Fiscal Year 2007-2008'', the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report 
        on the status of the implementation of the section.
            (2) Report on study.--Not later than 30 months after the 
        date on which the Department publishes such final report, the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report 
        on the study required under this section. The report shall 
        include recommendations for such administrative and legislative 
        action as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to be 
        appropriate. The report shall also include the findings of the 
        head of each specified division of the Department and of the 
        Under Secretary for Health.
    (f) Definition of Facility of the Department.--In this section the 
term ``facility of the Department'' has the meaning given that term in 
section 1701(3) of title 38, United States Code.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $4,000,000 to carry 
out this section.

SEC. 102. COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS OF 
              THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a 
comprehensive assessment of all health care services and programs 
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the health care 
needs of women veterans. Such comprehensive assessment shall include 
assessments of specialized programs for women with post-traumatic 
stress disorder, for women who are homeless, for women who require care 
for substance abuse or mental illnesses, and for women who require 
obstetric and gynecologic care.
    (b) Specific Matters Studied.--
            (1) Identification of programs.--For each medical facility 
        of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs shall identify each of the following types of 
        programs for women veterans provided by the Department and 
        determine whether effective health care services, including 
        evidenced-based health care services, are readily available to 
        and easily accessed by women veterans:
                    (A) Health promotion programs, including 
                reproductive health promotion programs.
                    (B) Disease prevention programs.
                    (C) Health care programs.
            (2) Identification of relevant issues.--In making such 
        determination, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        identify, for each medical facility of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs--
                    (A) the frequency with which such services are 
                available and provided,
                    (B) the demographics of the women veterans 
                population,
                    (C) the sites where such services are available and 
                provided, and
                    (D) whether, and to what extent, waiting lists, 
                geographic distance, and other factors obstruct the 
                receipt of any of such services at any such site.
    (c) Authority To Enter Into a Contract.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity 
or organization to carry out the studies and research required under 
this section.
    (d) Development of Plan To Improve Services.--
            (1) Plan required.--After conducting the comprehensive 
        assessment required by subsection (a), the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan to improve the provision 
        of health care services to women veterans and to project the 
        future health care needs, including the mental health care 
        needs of women serving in the combat theaters of Operation 
        Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
            (2) List of services.--In developing the plan under this 
        subsection, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall list the 
        types of services available for women veterans at each medical 
        center of the Department.
    (e) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to Congress a report on the assessment conducted pursuant to subsection 
(a) and the plan required under subsection (d). The report shall 
include recommendations for such administrative and legislative action 
as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to be appropriate.
    (f) GAO Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date on which 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs submits the report required under 
subsection (e), the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a 
report containing the findings of the Comptroller General with respect 
to the report of the Secretary, which may include such recommendations 
for administrative or legislative actions as the Comptroller General 
determines to be appropriate.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000 to carry 
out this section.

  TITLE II--IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS OF THE 
           DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR WOMEN VETERANS

SEC. 201. MEDICAL CARE FOR NEWBORN CHILDREN OF WOMEN VETERANS RECEIVING 
              MATERNITY CARE.

    (a) Newborn Care.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 1786. HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR NEWBORN CHILDREN OF 
              WOMEN VETERANS RECEIVING MATERNITY CARE.

    ``In the case of a child of a woman veteran who is receiving 
hospital care or medical services at a Department facility (or in 
another facility pursuant to a contract entered into by the Secretary) 
relating to the birth of that child, the Secretary may furnish hospital 
care and medical services to that child at that facility during the 14-
day period beginning on the date of the birth of the child.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1785 the following new item:

``1786. Hospital care and medical services for newborn children of 
                            women veterans receiving maternity care.''.

SEC. 202. TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS 
              OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON CARE FOR 
              VETERANS SUFFERING FROM SEXUAL TRAUMA AND POST-TRAUMATIC 
              STRESS DISORDER.

    Section 1720D of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(d) The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide graduate 
medical education, training, certification, and continuing medical 
education for mental health professionals who provide counseling, care, 
and services under subsection (a). In carrying out such program, the 
Secretary shall ensure that all such mental health professionals have 
been trained in a consistent manner and that such training includes 
principles of evidence-based treatment and care for sexual trauma and 
post-traumatic stress disorder.
    ``(e) The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report on 
the counseling, care, and services provided to veterans pursuant to 
this section. Each report shall include data for the year covered by 
the report with respect to each of the following:
            ``(1) The number of mental health professionals, graduate 
        medical education trainees, and primary care providers who have 
        been certified under the program required by subsection (d) and 
        the amount and nature of continuing medical education provided 
        under such program to such professionals, trainees, and 
        providers who are so certified.
            ``(2) The number of women veterans who received counseling 
        and care and services under subsection (a) from professionals 
        and providers who received training under subsection (d).
            ``(3) The number of graduate medical education, training, 
        certification, and continuing medical education courses 
        provided by reason of subsection (d).
            ``(4) The number of trained full-time equivalent employees 
        required in each facility of the Department to meet the needs 
        of veterans requiring treatment and care for sexual trauma and 
        post-traumatic stress disorder.
            ``(5) Any recommended improvements for treating women 
        veterans with sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
            ``(6) Such other information as the Secretary determines to 
        be appropriate.''.

SEC. 203. PILOT PROGRAM FOR PROVISION OF CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE TO 
              CERTAIN VETERANS RECEIVING CERTAIN TYPES OF HEALTH CARE 
              SERVICES AT DEPARTMENT FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Pilot program required.--Not later than six months 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs shall carry out a two-year pilot program under 
        which, subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide 
        child care assistance to a qualified veteran child care needed 
        by the veteran during the period of time described in paragraph 
        (3).
            (2) Form of child care assistance.--Child care assistance 
        under this section may include--
                    (A) stipends for the payment of child care offered 
                by licensed child care centers (either directly or 
                through a voucher program);
                    (B) the development of partnerships with private 
                agencies;
                    (C) collaboration with facilities or programs of 
                other Federal departments or agencies; and
                    (D) the arrangement of after-school care.
            (3) Period of time.--Child care assistance under the pilot 
        program may only be provided for the period of time that the 
        qualified veteran--
                    (A) receives a health care service referred to in 
                paragraph (4) at a facility of the Department; and
                    (B) requires to travel to and return from such 
                facility for the receipt of such health care service.
            (4) Qualified veteran defined.--In this section, the term 
        ``qualified veteran'' means a veteran who is the primary 
        caretaker of a child and who is receiving from the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs one or more of the following health care 
        services:
                    (A) Regular mental health care services.
                    (B) Intensive mental health care services.
                    (C) Any other intensive health care services for 
                which the Secretary determines that the provision of 
                child care would improve access by qualified veterans.
            (5) Location of pilot program.--The Secretary shall carry 
        out the pilot program at no fewer than three Veterans 
        Integrated Service Networks.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $1,500,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2010 and 2011 to carry out the pilot program under this 
section.
    (c) Report.--Not later than six months after the completion of the 
pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
pilot program and shall include recommendations for the continuation or 
expansion of the pilot program.

SEC. 204. ADDITION OF RECENTLY SEPARATED WOMEN AND MINORITY VETERANS TO 
              SERVE ON ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

    (a) Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.--Subsection (a)(2)(a) of 
section 542 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (ii);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (iii) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after clause (iii) the following new 
        clause:
            ``(iv) women who are recently separated veterans.''.
    (b) Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.--Subsection (a)(2)(a) 
of section 544 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (iii);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (iv) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after clause (iv) the following new 
        clause:
            ``(v) recently separated veterans who are minority group 
        members.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
first apply to appointments made on or after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
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