I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 104 

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers 

of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations 

relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, and temporarily extend 

benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 9, 2023 

Mr. BIGGS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally 

recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and 

caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility 

for caregiver programs, and temporarily extend benefits 

for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family 

caregiver program, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Transparency and Ef5 fective Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers 

6 Act’’ or the ‘‘TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act’’. 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 104 IH

1 SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATION OF CARE2 GIVER PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VET3 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

4 (a) OFFICIAL DESIGNATION OF CAREGIVERS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

6 Affairs shall formally recognize all caregivers of vet7 erans by identifying any caregiver of a veteran in 

8 the health record of the veteran. 

9 (2) INCLUSION.—Caregivers recognized under 

10 paragraph (1) shall include— 

11 (A) family caregivers participating in the 

12 program of comprehensive assistance for family 

13 caregivers under subsection (a) of section 

14 1720G of title 38, United States Code; and 

15 (B) caregivers participating in the program 

16 of support services for caregivers under sub17 section (b) of such section. 

18 (b) NOTIFICATION LETTERS REGARDING CLINICAL

19 DETERMINATIONS.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, using a 

21 standardized letter, shall notify veterans and care22 givers of veterans regarding any clinical determina23 tions made relating to claims, tier reduction, or ter24 mination of assistance under, or eligibility for, a 

25 caregiver program under subsection (a) or (b) of sec26 tion 1720G of title 38, United States Code. 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 104 IH

1 (2) ELEMENTS.—Notifications under paragraph 

2 (1) shall include the elements required for notices of 

3 decisions under section 5104(b) of title 38, United 

4 States Code, to the extent that those elements apply 

5 to determinations under paragraph (1). 

6 (c) TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF BENEFITS FOR FAM7 ILY CAREGIVER PROGRAM.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Upon determining that a 

9 veteran who was receiving services under the pro10 gram of comprehensive assistance for family care11 givers under section 1720G(a) of title 38, United 

12 States Code, is no longer clinically eligible for pur13 poses of such program, the Secretary shall extend 

14 benefits under such program, including stipends 

15 under paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(V) of such section, for 

16 not less than 90 days after the date of notification 

17 under subsection (b) that the veteran is no longer 

18 clinically eligible. 

19 (2) EXCLUSION.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply 

20 to the termination of caregiver benefits— 

21 (A) if the Secretary determines that the 

22 family caregiver committed fraud or abused or 

23 neglected the veteran; 

24 (B) if the family caregiver was designated 

25 under section 1720G(a)(7) of title 38, United 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HR 104 IH

1 States Code, as the primary provider of per2 sonal care services for the veteran and another 

3 primary provider is designated within 90 days 

4 after the date of termination, in which case 

5 benefits for the terminated primary provider 

6 will terminate the day before the date on which 

7 the new primary provider is designated; 

8 (C) if another individual is designated to 

9 be a family caregiver within 90 days after the 

10 date of termination, such that there are three 

11 family caregivers assigned to the veteran, in 

12 which case benefits for the terminated family 

13 caregiver will terminate the day before the date 

14 on which the new family caregiver is des15 ignated; 

16 (D) the terminated individual had been liv17 ing with the veteran and moves out, or the ter18 minated individual abandons or terminates his 

19 or her relationship with the veteran; or 

20 (E) upon request of the family caregiver or 

21 the veteran. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB