,i  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ajdgh  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(         
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #ag1        
#bjbf,mr4 ,rose 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,van   
,ord51 ,mr4 ,bur*ett1 & ,mr4 ,mills7    
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a 
,,bill  ,to direct ! ,secret>y (        
,vet]ans ,affairs to e/abli% a pilot    
program to arrange = qualifi$ p5sion    
assi/ance organizations to provide      
claims developm5t support to vet]ans &  
b5efici>ies1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4     
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,aid & ,att5dance ,assi/ance = ,vet]ans 
,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds !      
foll[+3  7#a7 ,_m vet]ans & surviv+     
sp\ses :o may be eligible = p5sion      
b5efits & all[ances = aid & att5dance "u
 *apt] #ae ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code1 are unaw>e ( su* b5efits or      
enc\nt] significant b>ri]s 9 det]m9+    
eligibility4  7#b7 ,claims = p5sion     
b5efits & all[ances = aid & att5dance   
frequ5tly require ext5sive m$ical1      

f9ancial1 c>egiv+1 & long-t]m c>e       
docum5tation4  7#c7 ,incomplete or      
insuffici5tly develop$ claims may       
contribute to delays 9 adjudication &   
may limit timely access to b5efits &    
long-t]m c>e s]vices = eligible vet]ans 
& surviv+ sp\ses4  7#d7 ,organizations )
 demon/rat$ exp]tise 9 p5sion & aid &   
att5dance b5efits may assi/ claimants 9 
develop+ complete applications &        
support+ docum5tation prior to          
submission to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs4  7#e7 ,organizations )        
ext5sive demon/rat$ exp]i5ce assi/+     
vet]ans & surviv+ sp\ses )              
non-s]vice-connect$ p5sion b5efits & aid
 & att5dance claims may possess         
specializ$ op]ational exp]tise t c      
improve claimant cont9uity1 evid5ti>y   
complet5ess1 & access to e>n$ b5efits4  
7#f7 ,p>tn]%ips betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs & qualifi$ p5sion     
assi/ance organizations may improve     
claimant access to b5efits1 enhance     
claim developm5t1 r$uce adm9i/rative    

burd5s1 & improve program outcomes4     
7#g7 ,timely access to p5sion b5efits & 
aid & att5dance all[ances may assi/     
eligible vet]ans & surviv+ sp\ses 9     
obta9+ necess>y long-t]m c>e s]vices &  
may r$uce reliance ^u ,m$icaid-fund$    
long-t]m c>e s]vices & o!r public       
assi/ance programs4  7#h7 ,x is 9 !     
int]e/ ( ,congress to evaluate :e!r     
p>tn]%ips ) qualifi$ p5sion assi/ance   
organizations improve claimant outcomes1
 increase access to e>n$ b5efits1       
improve adm9i/rative effici5cy1 & r$uce 
reliance on ,m$icaid-fund$ long-t]m c>e 
s]vices4  #c4 ,pilot program ( !        
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to arrange
 = qualifi$ p5sion assi/ance            
organizations to provide claims         
developm5t support  7a7 ,pilot program  
,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all   
c>ry out a pilot program "u :i* !       
,secret>y ent]s into contracts or o!r   
agreem5ts ) "o or m qualifi$ p5sion     
assi/ance organizations to provide      
claimant-support s]vices relat$ to--    

7#a7 non-s]vice-connect$ p5sion b5efits 
"u *apt] #ae ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code1 includ+ increas$ p5sion payable  
by reason ( ! ne$ = regul> aid &        
att5dance "u section #aeba7;d7 ( su*    
title2 &  7#b7 survivor p5sion b5efits  
payable by reason ( ! ne$ = regul> aid &
 att5dance "u section #aeda7;d7 ( su*   
title4  7b7 ,support provid$ ,support   
provid$ "u ! pilot program %all         
include--  7#a7 claimant intake &       
eligibility scre5+2  7#b7 collection &  
organization ( m$ical1 f9ancial1        
dep5d5cy1 & long-t]m c>e docum5tation2  
7#c7 evid5ti>y developm5t & application 
prep>ation2  7#d7 coord9ation (         
heal?c>e1 c>egiv+1 & f9ancial in=mation 
relevant to claim adjudication2  7#e7   
prep>ation & packag+ ( application      
mat]ials2  7#f7 claimant cont9uity      
s]vices dur+ ! claims-developm5t        
process2  7#g7 claimant foll[-up s]vices
 ?r\gh\t ! adjudication process2  7#h7  
assi/ance ) ma9ta9+ ,fully ,develop$    
,claim /atus :5 applicable2 &  7#i7     

po/-submission claimant support &       
communication assi/ance4  7c7 ,locations
 ,! ,secret>y %all select "o or m       
,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vices ,networks 9
 :i* to conduct ! pilot program4  7d7   
,limitation ,! ,secret>y may limit      
p>ticipation bas$ on num]ical1          
geographic1 categorical1 or o!r crit]ia 
det]m9$ appropriate by ! ,secret>y4  7e7
 ,contracts or o!r agreem5ts ,!         
,secret>y %all seek to ent] into "o or m
 contracts or o!r agreem5ts ) qualifi$  
p5sion assi/ance organizations =        
purposes ( c>ry+ out ?is section4  7f7  
,qualification requirem5ts ,to          
p>ticipate 9 ! pilot program1 an        
organization %all meet ! requirem5ts    
specifi$ 9 subsection 7j74  7g7         
,protections ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t 
p>ticipat+ organizations ma9ta9         
safegu>ds necess>y to--  7#a7 protect   
claimant in=mation2  7#b7 prev5t fraud1 
wa/e1 & abuse2  7#c7 ensure compliance )
 ,f$]al privacy laws & regulations2     
7#d7 ensure compliance ) section #eijd (

 title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 &  7#e7
 protect vet]ans & surviv+ sp\ses f     
inappropriate f9ancial arrangem5ts or   
conflicts ( int]e/4  7h7 ,sunset ,!     
au?ority "u ?is section %all t]m9ate on 
,decemb] #ca1 #bjca4  7i7 ,pref]5ce ,9  
select+ p>ticipat+ organizations1 !     
,secret>y %all give pref]5ce to         
organizations ) sub/antial demon/rat$   
exp]i5ce assi/+ vet]ans & surviv+ sp\ses
 9 obta9+ non-s]vice-connect$ p5sion    
b5efits & aid & att5dance b5efits on a  
nationwide basis4  7j7 ,qualifi$ p5sion 
assi/ance organization def9$ ,9 ?is     
section1 ! t]m qualifi$ p5sion assi/ance
 organization means an organization t   
provides nationwide adm9i/rative &      
claimant-support s]vices exclusively    
relat$ to ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
non-s]vice-connect$ p5sion b5efits1     
includ+ p5sion ) aid & att5dance1 & t-- 
7#a7 has ma9ta9$ cont9u\s op]ations = n 
few] ?an five ye>s prim>ily d$icat$ to  
assi/+ vet]ans & surviv+ sp\ses ) p5sion
 b5efit eligibility det]m9ations & claim

 developm5t2  7#b7 has docum5t$ n few]  
?an #aj1jjj v]ifiable approvals (       
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs           
non-s]vice-connect$ p5sion claims1      
includ+ p5sion ) aid & att5dance &      
survivor p5sion claims2  7#c7           
demon/rates ! op]ational capacity to    
s]ve n few] ?an #cjj claimants p] mon?  
on a nationwide basis2  7#d7 ma9ta9s a  
d$icat$ national infra/ructure =        
claimant intake1 case managem5t1        
evid5ti>y developm5t1 application       
support1 & claimant cont9uity s]vices2  
7#e7 does n engage 9 ! sale1 m>ket+1    
ref]ral1 or receipt ( comp5sation relat$
 to f9ancial products1 annuities1       
insurance products1 inve/m5t products1  
tru/s1 asset-transf] /rategies1 or      
,m$icaid plann+ products2  7#f7 does n  
*>ge any fee to a claimant = prep>+1    
pres5t+1 or prosecut+ a claim = b5efits 
"u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y2  7#g7  
is accr$it$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs1 or op]ates "u ! direct        
sup]vision ( a ,dep>tm5t-accr$it$       

attorney or claims ag5t2  7#h7 has      
demon/rat$ specializ$ exp]i5ce assi/+   
vet]ans & surviv+ sp\ses )              
non-s]vice-connect$ p5sion claims on a  
nationwide basis & has ma9ta9$ a        
docum5t$ approval hi/ory &              
claimant-support infra/ructure suffici5t
 to support l>ge-scale p5sion claims    
developm5t op]ations2  7#i7 has nev]1 & 
no affiliat$ organization1 (fic]1       
employee1 contractor1 or ag5t has ev]1  
directly or indirectly-- 7,a7 be5 grant$
 signatory au?ority ov]1 jo9t own]%ip (1
 or access to a claimant's bank acc\nt1 
f9ancial acc\nt1 or o!r f9ancial assets2
 or  7,b7 acquir$1 accept$1 held1 or be5
 grant$ any own]%ip int]e/1 li51        
mortgage1 de$1 title int]e/1 p[] (      
attorney1 or o!r legal or equitable     
int]e/ 9 a claimant's prim>y resid5ce or
 real prop]ty2 &  7#aj7 ma9ta9s         
auditable records suffici5t to v]ify    
compliance ) ! requirem5ts ( ?is        
subsection4  #d4 ,p]=mance measurem5t & 
program evaluation  7a7 ,data collection

 ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a p]=mance   
measurem5t framework to evaluate :e!r ! 
pilot program improves claimant         
outcomes1 adm9i/rative effici5cy1 &     
access to long-t]m c>e s]vices = vet]ans
 & surviv+ sp\ses apply+ =              
non-s]vice-connect$ p5sion b5efits1     
includ+ aid & att5dance4  7b7 ,requir$  
p]=mance measures ,! ,secret>y %all     
collect & evaluate1 at a m9imum--  7#a7 
! numb] ( claimants p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot
 program2  7#b7 ! p]c5tage ( claims     
initially submitt$ z ,fully ,develop$   
,claims2  7#c7 ! p]c5tage ( claims t    
rema9 9 ,fully ,develop$ ,claim /atus   
?r\gh f9al adjudication2  7#d7 ! rate ( 
incomplete1 defici5t1 or adm9i/ratively 
reject$ submissions comp>$ to simil>    
claims process$ outside ! pilot program2
  7#e7 ! numb] & frequ5cy ( reque/s =   
additional evid5ce or developm5t actions
 foll[+ submission2  7#f7 measures (    
evid5ti>y complet5ess1 includ+ ! pres5ce
 ( requir$ f9ancial1 m$ical1 dep5d5cy1 &
 long-t]m c>e docum5tation at initial   

submission2  7#g7 av]age claim process+ 
times f submission to f9al decision     
comp>$ to non-pilot claims2  7#h7       
claimant cont9uity measures1 includ+    
claimant ret5tion & successful          
completion ( ! claims-developm5t        
process2  7#i7 approval rates = claims  
process$ ?r\gh ! pilot comp>$ to        
simil>ly situat$ claims process$ outside
 ! pilot2  7#aj7 claimant access to home
 c>e1 assi/$ liv+1 nurs+ facility c>e1  
or o!r long-t]m c>e s]vices foll[+      
receipt ( b5efits2  7#aa7 ! ext5t to :i*
 receipt ( p5sion b5efits ?r\gh ! pilot 
r$uc$1 delay$1 or avoid$ reliance on    
,m$icaid-fund$ long-t]m c>e s]vices2    
7#ab7 claimant satisfaction & program   
accessibility measures2 &  7#ac7 any    
additional measures ! ,secret>y det]m9es
 necess>y to evaluate op]ational        
effectiv5ess & scalability4  7c7        
,comp>ative analysis ,! ,secret>y %all  
comp>e pilot-program p]=mance aga9/     
sub/antially simil> non-pilot p5sion    
claims to det]m9e :e!r ! pilot          

improves--  7#a7 claim quality2  7#b7   
evid5ti>y complet5ess2  7#c7 claimant   
outcomes2  7#d7 adm9i/rative effici5cy2 
7#e7 ,fully ,develop$ ,claim ret5tion   
rates2  7#f7 access to long-t]m c>e     
s]vices2 &  7#g7 r$uctions 9            
,m$icaid-fund$ long-t]m c>e utilization4
  7d7 ,prelim9>y report to ,congress ,n 
lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date t is #ah  
mon?s aft] ! comm5cem5t ( ! pilot       
program "u section #c1 ! ,secret>y %all 
submit to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & !
 ,s5ate a prelim9>y report on !         
implem5tation & p]=mance ( ! pilot      
program4  7e7 ,report to ,congress ,n   
lat] ?an #ahj days aft] completion ( !  
pilot program1 ! ,secret>y %all submit a
 report to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'   
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & !
 ,s5ate conta9+-- 7#a7 all p]=mance data
 collect$ "u ?is section2  7#b7 an      
assessm5t ( :e!r ! pilot improv$ ,fully 
,develop$ ,claim ret5tion1 evid5ti>y    
complet5ess1 claimant cont9uity1        

approval outcomes1 & adjudication       
timel9es2  7#c7 an assessm5t ( r$uctions
 9 ,m$icaid-fund$ long-t]m c>e          
exp5ditures attributable to b5efits     
obta9$ ?r\gh ! pilot2  7#d7             
recomm5dations reg>d+ expansion1        
cont9uation1 modification1 or t]m9ation 
( ! pilot2 &  7#e7 an assessm5t ( !     
feasibility ( exp&+ ! pilot to          
additional jurisdictions or implem5t+ ! 
model on a nationwide basis4