[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 2818 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 837
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2818
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 25, 2008
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment
of epilepsy centers of excellence in the Veterans Health Administration
of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Epilepsy Treatment Act of
2008''.
SEC. 2. EPILEPSY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.
(a) Requirement for Establishment of Epilepsy Centers of
Excellence.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7330A. Epilepsy centers of excellence
``(a) Designation of Centers.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall designate an
epilepsy center of excellence at each of the 5 centers designated under
section 7327.
``(b) Expert Clinical and Research Staff.--Each center designated
under subsection (a) shall employ such expert clinical and research
staff, including board certified neurologists and neurosurgeons, as may
be necessary to ensure that such center is capable of serving as a
center of excellence in research, education, and clinical care
activities in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, including post-
traumatic epilepsy.
``(c) Requirements and Operation of Centers.--Each center
designated under subsection (a) shall function as a center for--
``(1) research on the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term
effects of epilepsy, including epilepsy developed as a result
of combat, in order to support the provision of services for
such diagnosis and treatment in accordance with the most
current information on epilepsy;
``(2) the development of evidence-based methodologies for
treating individuals with epilepsy;
``(3) the continuous and consistent coordination of care
from the point of referral throughout the diagnostic and
treatment process and ongoing follow-up after return to home
and community;
``(4) the development of a national system of coordinated
care for veterans with epilepsy, including the development and
maintenance of a national network of Department health care
personnel with an interest and expertise in the care and
treatment of epilepsy and the establishment of a referral
system and procedure within each Veterans Integrated Service
Network;
``(5) assist in the expansion, where appropriate, of the
utilization of telehealth technology, including exploring the
use of such technology to develop, transmit, monitor, and
review neurological diagnostic tests and other applicable uses
of telehealth technology for the diagnosis, care, and treatment
of veterans with epilepsy; and
``(6) the dissemination of educational materials and
research regarding diagnosis, care, and treatment of epilepsy,
throughout the Department.
``(d) Administration.--In order to assist the Secretary in carrying
out this section, the Secretary shall designate a national coordinator
for epilepsy programs who shall report to the official responsible for
neurology at the Veterans Health Administration and shall--
``(1) supervise the operation of the centers designated
under this section;
``(2) coordinate and support the national network of
Department health care professionals with an interest and
expertise in the care and treatment of epilepsy;
``(3) ensure that the education and research mission of
such centers is being accomplished; and
``(4) conduct regular evaluations of such centers to ensure
compliance with the requirements of this section.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2009 through 2013.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
7330 the following new item:
``7330A. Epilepsy centers of excellence.''.
Passed the House of Representatives June 24, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 837
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2818
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment
of epilepsy centers of excellence in the Veterans Health Administration
of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
_______________________________________________________________________
June 25, 2008
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar