S. 2607 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2607 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 15, 2014 Mr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Heller) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To extend and modify the pilot program of the Department of Veterans Affairs on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Assisted Living Pilot Program for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Extension Act. 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in a generation of veterans with traumatic brain injuries. (2) Since 2001, more than 265,000 members of the Armed Forces have suffered traumatic brain injuries. (3) Since 2001, more than 26,000 members of the Armed Forces have suffered moderate or severe head wounds. (4) Advances in medicine have kept members of the Armed Forces alive who have suffered head wounds that might have killed them in previous conflicts. (5) The pilot program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess the effectiveness of providing assisted living services to eligible veterans to enhance the rehabilitation, quality of life, and community integration of such veterans required by section 1705(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 38 U.S.C. 1710C note) has provided to veterans who have moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries, often coupled with other significant physical and psychological challenges, a level of comprehensive, coordinated care in residential facilities across the United States since 2008. (6) The model of care practiced under the pilot program specified in paragraph (5) has yielded impressive results and helped rehabilitate dozens of veterans from severe injuries that are notoriously difficult to treat. (7) The Department of Veterans Affairs does not offer to veterans any alternatives to the pilot program specified in paragraph (5) that replicate— (A) the comprehensiveness of the rehabilitative care provided under such program; (B) the benefit of providing care under such program in a residential setting; and (C) the significant positive impact on veterans of the sustained, longer-term care provided under such program. 3. Extension and modification of pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury (a) Extension of program Subsection (a) of section 1705 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 38 U.S.C. 1710C note) is amended by striking a five-year and inserting an eight-year. (b) Modification of locations Subsection (b) of such section is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraphs: (1) In general The pilot program shall be carried out at locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program. (2) Located in same region as polytrauma centers Of the locations selected under paragraph (1), at least one location shall be in each health care region of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs that contains a polytrauma center of the Department of Veterans Affairs. . (c) Modification of report requirements Subsection (e) of such section is amended to read as follows: (e) Reports (1) Annual report (A) In general Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the Assisted Living Pilot Program for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Extension Act, and not later than September 30 each year thereafter until 2018, 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 pilot program. (B) Elements Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i) The number of individuals that participated in the pilot program during the year preceding the submission of the report. (ii) The number of individuals that successfully completed the pilot program during the year preceding the submission of the report. (iii) The degree to which pilot program participants and family members of pilot program participants were satisfied with the pilot program. (iv) The interim findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the success of the pilot program and recommendations for improvement. (2) Final report (A) In general Not later than 60 days after the completion of the pilot program, 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 final report on the pilot program. (B) Elements The final report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i) A description of the pilot program. (ii) An assessment of the utility of the activities under the pilot program in enhancing the rehabilitation, quality of life, and community reintegration of veterans with traumatic brain injury, including complex mild traumatic brain injury. (iii) Such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate regarding improving the pilot program. . (d) Modification of definitions (1) Community-based brain injury residential rehabilitative care services Such section is further amended— (A) in the section heading, by striking assisted living and inserting community-based brain injury residential rehabilitative care; (B) in subsection (c), in the subsection heading, by striking assisted living and inserting community-Based brain injury residential rehabilitative care; (C) by striking assisted living each place it appears, and inserting community-based brain injury rehabilitative care; and (D) in subsection (f)(1), by striking and personal care and inserting rehabilitation, and personal care. (2) Eligible veteran Subsection (f)(3) of such section is amended— (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (E) has a traumatic brain injury that is classified as complex-mild to severe. . (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2015 $46,000,000 to carry out the pilot program under section 1705 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 38 U.S.C. 1710C note), as amended by this section. The amount so authorized to be appropriated shall be available for obligation for the three-year period beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (f) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2014.