I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3216 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 14, 2011 Mr. Benishek (for himself and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an ophthalmologic service and Director of Ophthalmologic Services in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the VHA Ophthalmologic Service Establishment Act of 2011.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Ocular injuries during war have steadily increased from 2 percent in the Civil War to 16 percent in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. (2)The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported 46,000 eye trauma injuries, including mild, moderate, and severe cases, as of December 2010. (3)Large numbers of returning veterans suffer from visual symptoms associated with traumatic brain injury; in fact, approximately 60 to 70 percent of severe and moderate traumatic brain injury cases and 40 percent of mild traumatic brain injury cases include some form of visual impairment. (4)The demand and complexity of eye-care services within the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs has increased significantly in recent years. (5)The number of veterans over age 85 is projected to increase by 173 percent by 2020, and as the veteran population served by the Department of Veteran Affairs ages, the demand for eye care is expected to double, increasing the demand for eye care services.

3.

Establishment of ophthalmologic service in Veterans Health Administration

(a)

Establishment of ophthalmologic service

Section 7305 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; and (2)by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph: (6)An Ophthalmologic Service. . (b)

Director

Paragraph (6) of section 7306(a) of such title is amended by inserting a Director of Ophthalmologic Service, after Podiatric Service,. (c)

Implementation

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that an individual is serving as the Director of Ophthalmologic Service under section 7306(a)(6) of such title, as amended by subsection (b), by not later than the date that is 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.