S.Amdt. 5503

1. Adds SEC. 1068. PILOT PROGRAM ON TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR FAMILY CAREGIVER PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY at the end of subtitle F of title X

   Adds a section

   In S. 3001 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (c) Senior Oversight Committee Defined.--In this section, the term "Senior Oversight Committee" means the Senior Oversight Committee jointly established by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in May 2007. The Senior Oversight Committee was established to address concerns related to the treatment of wounded, ill, and injured members of the Armed Forces and veterans and serve as the single point of contact for oversight, strategy, and integration of proposed strategies for the efforts of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve support throughout the recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration of wounded, ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: SEC. 1068. PILOT PROGRAM ON TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR FAMILY CAREGIVER PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

   Inserted: (a) Pilot Programs Authorized.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing training and certification for family caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury as personal care attendants of such veterans and members.

   Inserted: (b) Duration of Program.--The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall be carried out during the three-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.

   Inserted: (c) Locations.--The pilot program under this section shall be carried out in three medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In selecting the locations of the pilot program, the Secretary shall give special emphasis to the polytrauma centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs designated as Tier I polytrauma centers.

   Inserted: (d) Training Curricula.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop curricula for the training of personal care attendants under the pilot program under this section. Such curricula shall incorporate--

   Inserted: (A) applicable standards and protocols utilized by certification programs of national brain injury care specialist organizations; and

   Inserted: (B) best practices recognized by caregiving organizations.

   Inserted: (2) Use of existing curricula.--In developing the curricula required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to the extent practicable, utilize and expand upon training curricula developed pursuant to section 744(b) of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109-364; 120 Stat. 2308).

   Inserted: (e) Participation in Programs.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall determine the eligibility of a family member of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces for participation in the pilot program under this section.

   Inserted: (2) Basis for determination.--A determination made under paragraph (1) shall be based on the needs of the veteran or member of the Armed Forces concerned, as determined by the physician of such veteran or member.

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   Inserted: (f) Eligibility for Compensation.--A family caregiver of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces who receives certification as a personal care attendant under the pilot program under this section shall be eligible for compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for care provided to such veteran or member.

   Inserted: (g) Costs of Training.--

   Inserted: (1) Training of families of veterans.--Any costs of training provided under the pilot program under this section for family members of veterans shall be borne by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (2) Training of families of members of the armed forces.--The Secretary of Defense shall reimburse the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for any costs of training provided under the pilot program for family members of members of the Armed Forces. Amounts for such reimbursement shall be derived from amounts available for Defense Health Program for the TRICARE program.

   Inserted: (h) Assessment of Family Caregiver Needs.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide to a family caregiver who receives training under a pilot program under this section--

   Inserted: (A) an assessment of their needs with respect to their role as a family caregiver; and

   Inserted: (B) a referral to services and support that--

   Inserted: (i) are relevant to any needs identified in such assessment; and

   Inserted: (ii) are provided in the community where the family caregiver resides, including such services and support provided by community-based organizations, publicly-funded programs, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (2) Use of existing tools.--In developing and administering an assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, use and expand upon caregiver assessment tools already developed and in use by the Department.

   Inserted: (i) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program carried out under this section, including the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to expansion or modification of the pilot program.

   Inserted: (j) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed--

   Inserted: (1) to establish a mandate or right for a family caregiver to be trained and certified under this section; and

   Inserted: (2) to prohibit the Secretary from considering or adopting the preference of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces for services provided by a personal care attendant who is not a family caregiver.

   Inserted: (k) Family Caregiver Defined.--In this section, with respect to member of the Armed Forces or a veteran with traumatic brain injury, the term "family caregiver" means a family member of such member or veteran, or such other individual of similar affinity to such member or veteran as the Secretary proscribes, who is providing care to such member or veteran for such traumatic brain injury.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle F of title X, add the following:

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As printed