II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2216 

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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 23, 2019 

Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mrs. BLACKBURN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and 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’’. 


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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 under, or eligibility for, 

24 a caregiver program under subsection (a) or (b) of 

25 section 1720G of title 38, United States Code. 


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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 claims or eligibility determinations under para6 graph (1). 

7 (c) TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF BENEFITS FOR FAM8 ILY CAREGIVER PROGRAM.— 

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

10 veteran who was receiving services under the pro11 gram of comprehensive assistance for family care12 givers under section 1720G(a) of title 38, United 

13 States Code, is no longer clinically eligible for pur14 poses of such program, the Secretary shall extend 

15 benefits under such program, including stipends 

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

17 not less than 90 days after the date of notification 

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

19 clinically eligible. 

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

21 to the termination of caregiver benefits— 

22 (A) for cause, including— 

23 (i) noncompliance with requirements 

24 of the program; or 

25 (ii) fraud; 


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1 (B) because the veteran died; or 

2 (C) upon request of the caregiver or the 

3 veteran. 

Æ 


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