Veterans Caregiver Improvement and Expansion Act

To require an audit and review of the caregiver programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Caregiver Improvement and Expansion Act 2. Audit and review of Department of Veterans Affairs caregiver programs (a) GAO audit The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an audit of the caregiver programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such audit shall include— (1) a review of the budget formulations, execution, allocation, and use of funds for each program; and (2) the recommendations of the Comptroller General for streamlining and consolidating the two programs. (b) Secretary of Veterans Affairs review Not later than three months after the completion of the audit required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the audit that includes the identification of— (1) any changes recommended by the Comptroller General that the Secretary is able to implement without legislative changes; (2) any recommendation of the Comptroller General for legislative changes; (3) any recommendation of the Comptroller General that the Secretary determines is problematic, overly expensive, or impractical; and (4) in the case of any recommendation identified under paragraph (3), a recommendation for an alternative approach to addressing the problem identified by the Comptroller General in making such recommendation. (c) Implementation Not later than 24 months after the submittal of the report under subsection (b), the Secretary shall— (1) implement the changes described in paragraph (1) of such subsection; (2) establish national policies based on best practices for administering the caregiver programs designed to streamline and consolidate the caregiver programs; and (3) establish a database designed to monitor all Department programs that provide assistance to caregivers and all caregivers receiving assistance under a caregiver program. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term caregiver (2) The term caregiver programs (A) The program for assistance and support services for caregivers under section 1720G of title 38, United States Code. (B) The program to provide counseling, training, and mental health services for immediate family members and caregivers under section 1782 of such title.

Summary: Veterans Caregiver Improvement and Expansion Act This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an audit of two specified caregiver programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Such audit shall include: (1) a review of the budget formulations, execution, allocation, and use of funds; and (2) recommendations for streamlining and consolidation. Within three months of the completion of such audit, VA must submit a report to Congress on: recommendations the VA is able to implement without legislative changes; legislative changes recommended by the GAO; recommendations that VA determines are problematic, overly expensive, or impractical; and alternative approaches to address the problem. Within 24 months of submitting such report, VA shall: implement the recommendations the VA is able to implement without legislative changes, establish national policies that are designed to streamline and consolidate the programs, and establish a database to monitor all VA programs that provide assistance to caregivers and all caregivers who receive such assistance.