Military SAVE Act

To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve the treatment of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are victims of military sexual assault. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act Military SAVE Act 2. Improvement of treatment for military sexual assault (a) Veterans (1) In general Chapter 17 section 1720D 1720D–1. Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at non-Department facilities (a) Establishment Notwithstanding section 1703 of this title, and in addition to the program under section 1720D, the Secretary shall operate a program under which the Secretary ensures that veterans who are victims of military sexual trauma may receive treatment for such trauma from private providers. (b) Election A veteran may elect to receive treatment under this section by notifying the Secretary of such election at a facility or regional office of the Department. Such notification shall include a written affidavit by the veteran, made under penalty of perjury under section 1746 (c) Voucher (1) Upon receiving a notification under subsection (b), the Secretary shall issue the veteran a voucher described in paragraph (3). (2) A veteran to whom a voucher is issued under paragraph (1) may use the voucher to receive treatment by a private provider who agrees to accept such voucher as payment for such treatment. Any amount charged by the private provider for such treatment that is in addition to the amount paid by the voucher shall be the sole responsibility of the veteran. (3) A voucher described in this paragraph is a voucher indicating that the Secretary will reimburse a private provider for treatment provided by the provider to a veteran under this section. (4) The amount for which the Secretary will reimburse a private provider pursuant to a voucher described in paragraph (3) is equal to the amount that the Secretary pays to a non-Department facility under section 1703 of this title for the same treatment for which the voucher is used. (5) The Secretary shall require that a veteran make a reelection under subsection (b) during each 120-day period in which the voucher is used following the initial 120-day period in which the voucher is valid. (d) Consultation The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Defense to ensure that this section is carried out in a manner that allows veterans to receive similar treatment as is provided to members of the Armed Forces under section 1074n (e) Definitions In this section: (1) The term military sexual trauma (2) The term private provider (3) The term sexual harassment (4) The term treatment . (2) Conforming amendments Section 1720D(a) of such title is amended— (A) by striking (1) The Secretary The Secretary (B) by striking paragraph (2); and (C) in the section heading, by adding at Department facilities trauma (3) Clerical amendments The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by striking the item relating to section 1720D and inserting the following new items: 1720D. Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at Department facilities. 1720D–1. Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at non-Department facilities. . (b) Members of the Armed Forces (1) In general Chapter 55 section 1074m 1074n. Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at private facilities (a) Establishment The Secretary shall operate a program under which the Secretary ensures that members of the armed forces who are victims of military sexual trauma may receive treatment for such trauma by private providers. (b) Election A member may elect to receive treatment under this section by notifying the Secretary of such election. Such notification shall include a written affidavit by the member, made under penalty of perjury under section 1746 (c) Voucher (1) Upon receiving a notification under subsection (b), the Secretary shall issue the member a voucher described in paragraph (3). (2) A member to whom a voucher is issued under paragraph (1) may use the voucher to receive treatment by a private provider who agrees to accept such voucher as payment for such treatment. Any amount charged by the private provider for such treatment that is in addition to the amount paid by the voucher shall be the sole responsibility of the member. (3) A voucher described in this paragraph is a voucher indicating that the Secretary will reimburse a private provider for treatment provided by the provider to a member under this section. (4) The amount for which the Secretary will reimburse a private provider pursuant to a voucher described in paragraph (3) is equal to the amount that the Secretary pays to a private provider under the TRICARE program for the same treatment for which the voucher is used. (5) The Secretary shall require that a veteran make a reelection under subsection (b) during each 120-day period in which the voucher is used following the initial 120-day period in which the voucher is valid. (d) Consultation The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that this section is carried out in a manner that allows members to receive similar treatment as is provided to veterans under section 1720D–1 (e) Definitions In this section: (1) The term military sexual trauma (2) The term private provider (3) The term sexual harassment section 1720D (4) The term treatment . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1074m the following new item: 1074n. Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma at private facilities. .

Summary: Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act or the Military SAVE Act - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to each operate a program that ensures that veterans and members of the armed forces may receive treatment from private providers for military sexual trauma. Requires the Secretaries: (1) after receiving from a veteran or member electing such treatment a notification that includes a written affidavit stating that the individual is a victim of military sexual trauma, to assign a voucher that such individual may use to receive such treatment; and (2) to require such individual to make a reelection during each 120-day period in which such a voucher is used following the initial 120-day period the voucher is valid.