S.Amdt. 3580

SA 3580. Ms. SMITH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
her to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

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

SEC. 1067. PILOT PROGRAM TO FURNISH HEARING AIDS, HEARING
TESTS, AND RELATED HEALTH CARE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO VETERANS WITH
HEARING LOSS.

(a) In General.--Commencing not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program (in

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this section referred to as the ``pilot program'') under
which the Secretary shall furnish covered care to covered
veterans for the duration of the pilot program.
(b) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out
during the four-year period beginning on the date of the
commencement of the pilot program.
(c) Locations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program at the following locations:
(A) Each medical center of the Department with an
established hearing clinic.
(B) Each community-based outpatient clinic with an
established hearing clinic.
(2) Mobile hearing clinics.--In carrying out the pilot
program, the Secretary shall test the efficacy of mobile
hearing clinics to service rural areas that do not have a
population base to warrant a full-time clinic but where there
are covered veterans in need of covered care.
(3) Home-based hearing care.--In carrying out the pilot
program, the Secretary shall test the efficacy of using
portable units to provide covered care to rural veteran in
their homes, as the Secretary considers medically
appropriate.
(d) Hearing Therapists and Tele-hearing.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program, The
Secretary shall test the efficacy of the use of hearing
therapists and tele-hearing to service the covered care needs
of covered veterans.
(2) Use of tele-hearing.--When providing tele-hearing under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use Federal employees to
the maximum extent possible.
(e) Administration.--
(1) Notice to covered veterans.--In carrying out the pilot
program, the Secretary shall inform all covered veterans of
the covered care available under the pilot program.
(2) Copayments.--The Secretary may collect copayments for
covered care furnished under the pilot program in accordance
with authorities on the collection of copayments for medical
care of veterans under chapter 17 of title 38, United States
Code.
(f) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days before the
completion of the pilot program, and not later than 180 days
after the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of
the House of Representatives a report on the pilot program.
(2) Contents.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) A description of the implementation and operation of
the provision of covered care under the pilot program.
(B) The number of covered veterans receiving covered care
under the pilot program and a description of the covered care
furnished to such veterans.
(C) An analysis of the costs and benefits of covered care
provided under the pilot program, including a comparison of
costs and benefits by location type.
(D) An assessment of the impact of the pilot program on
appointments for care, prescriptions, hospitalizations,
emergency room visits, wellness, employability, satisfaction,
and perceived quality of life of covered veterans.
(E) An analysis and assessment of the efficacy of mobile
clinics and portable hearing care units, to the extent such
modalities are used, to service the needs of covered veterans
under the pilot program.
(F) An analysis and assessment of the efficacy of hearing
therapists and tele-hearing to service the needs of covered
veterans under the pilot program, to include a cost benefit
analysis of such services.
(G) The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with
respect to the pilot program.
(H) Such recommendations as the Secretary considers
appropriate for the expansion of covered care to all veterans
eligible for health care from the Department.
(g) Impact on Community Care.--Nothing in this section
limits a covered veteran from accessing care or services
pursuant to section 1703 of title 38, United States Code.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered care.--The term ``covered care'' means the
provision of hearing aids, hearing tests, and related health
care.
(2) Covered veteran.--The term ``covered veteran'' means a
veteran who--
(A) is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment
of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and
operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States
Code; and
(B) has hearing loss.
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