I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9005 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program 
for the cognitive care of veterans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 
Mrs. HARSHBARGER (for herself and Mr. ROY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
a pilot program for the cognitive care of veterans, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Innovative Cognitive 
Care for Veterans Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) According to a 2020 study by the Office of 
the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health 
for Policy and Planning of the Department of Vet-
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erans Affairs, it is projected that the number of vet-
erans with Alzheimer’s dementia will increase by 
28.9 percent between fiscal year 2021 and fiscal 
year 2033, amounting to an estimated 48,000 new 
patients with cognitive impairments. 
(2) The cost of expenditures of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for long-term care is growing 
rapidly, as demonstrated by a 2020 Government Ac-
countability Office report that estimates such ex-
penditures 
are 
projected 
to 
double 
to 
$14,300,000,000 by 2037. 
(3) As described in the report specified in para-
graph (2), the Department of Veterans Affairs also 
faces both a current and incoming workforce short-
age, in addition to other challenges relating to the 
provision of long-term care services to the more than 
2,800,000 estimated veterans who are enrolled in 
the patient enrollment system of the Department es-
tablished and operated under section 1705(a) of title 
38, United States Code, and live in rural areas. 
(4) As observed by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, veterans can also be prone to unique factors 
that increase the risk for future cognitive impair-
ment. For example, it has been found that veterans 
who served during the Vietnam era and, while so 
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serving, were exposed to Agent Orange are nearly 
twice as likely as those without such exposure to re-
ceive a diagnosis of dementia. 
(5) This data compels the United States Gov-
ernment to do more for veterans and their cognitive 
care. 
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS FOR ADDRESSING COGNITIVE DIS-
ORDERS AMONG VETERANS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) PILOT PROGRAM.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out, as a part 
of the Veterans Community Care Program under 
section 1703 of title 38, and in accordance with the 
requirements of such program, a pilot program (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘pilot program’’) 
under which the Secretary may enter into agree-
ments with eligible entities to furnish to partici-
pating veterans telehealth, virtual training tools for 
home health aides, and other innovative services, 
that slow the progression of cognitive disorders. 
(2) VETERANS CARE AGREEMENTS.—In enter-
ing into agreements under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary may enter into a Veterans Care Agreement 
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under section 1703A of title 38, United States Code, 
consistent with the requirements of such section. 
(b) SELECTION OF ENTITIES.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity is eligible 
for entry into an agreement under the pilot program 
if the entity is a private organization that— 
(A) furnishes telehealth, virtual training 
tools for home health aides, or other innovative 
services, that slow the progression of cognitive 
disorders; and 
(B) meets such other requirements as the 
Secretary may prescribe. 
(2) PRIORITY.—In selecting eligible entities for 
entry into an agreement under the pilot program, 
the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities 
with— 
(A) demonstrated experience in providing 
assistance to individuals with cognitive dis-
orders; 
(B) demonstrated experience in addressing 
behavioral and temperament issues, including 
through interactive engagement and stimulation 
solutions; 
(C) demonstrated experience in caregiver 
or home health aid training; and 
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