H. R. 4986—485 
‘‘(B) as soon as practicable following a diagnosis of 
traumatic brain injury by a Department health care pro-
vider. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—Each plan developed under subsection 
(a) shall include, for the individual covered by such plan, the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Rehabilitation objectives for improving the physical, 
cognitive, and vocational functioning of the individual with 
the goal of maximizing the independence and reintegration 
of such individual into the community. 
‘‘(2) Access, as warranted, to all appropriate rehabilitative 
components of the traumatic brain injury continuum of care, 
and where appropriate, to long-term care services. 
‘‘(3) A description of specific rehabilitative treatments and 
other services to achieve the objectives described in paragraph 
(1), which shall set forth the type, frequency, duration, and 
location of such treatments and services. 
‘‘(4) The name of the case manager designated in accord-
ance with subsection (d) to be responsible for the implementa-
tion of such plan. 
‘‘(5) Dates on which the effectiveness of such plan will 
be reviewed in accordance with subsection (f). 
‘‘(c) COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT.—(1) Each plan developed 
under subsection (a) shall be based on a comprehensive assessment, 
developed in accordance with paragraph (2), of— 
‘‘(A) the physical, cognitive, vocational, and neuropsycholog-
ical and social impairments of the individual; and 
‘‘(B) the family education and family support needs of the 
individual after the individual is discharged from inpatient 
care or at the commencement of and during the receipt of 
outpatient care and services. 
‘‘(2) The comprehensive assessment required under paragraph 
(1) with respect to an individual is a comprehensive assessment 
of the matters set forth in that paragraph by a team, composed 
by the Secretary for purposes of the assessment, of individuals 
with expertise in traumatic brain injury, including any of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A neurologist. 
‘‘(B) A rehabilitation physician. 
‘‘(C) A social worker. 
‘‘(D) A neuropsychologist. 
‘‘(E) A physical therapist. 
‘‘(F) A vocational rehabilitation specialist. 
‘‘(G) An occupational therapist. 
‘‘(H) A speech language pathologist. 
‘‘(I) A rehabilitation nurse. 
‘‘(J) An educational therapist. 
‘‘(K) An audiologist. 
‘‘(L) A blind rehabilitation specialist. 
‘‘(M) A recreational therapist. 
‘‘(N) A low vision optometrist. 
‘‘(O) An orthotist or prosthetist. 
‘‘(P) An assistive technologist or rehabilitation engineer. 
‘‘(Q) An otolaryngology physician. 
‘‘(R) A dietician. 
‘‘(S) An opthamologist. 
‘‘(T) A psychiatrist.
H. R. 4986—486 
‘‘(d) CASE MANAGER.—(1) The Secretary shall designate a case 
manager for each individual described in subsection (a) to be respon-
sible for the implementation of the plan developed for that indi-
vidual under that subsection and the coordination of the individual’s 
medical care. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that each case manager has 
specific expertise in the care required by the individual for whom 
the case manager is designated, regardless of whether the case 
manager obtains such expertise through experience, education, or 
training. 
‘‘(e) PARTICIPATION AND COLLABORATION IN DEVELOPMENT OF 
PLANS.—(1) The Secretary shall involve each individual described 
in subsection (a), and the family or legal guardian of such indi-
vidual, in the development of the plan for such individual under 
that subsection to the maximum extent practicable. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall collaborate in the development of a 
plan for an individual under subsection (a) with a State protection 
and advocacy system if— 
‘‘(A) the individual covered by the plan requests such 
collaboration; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of such an individual who is incapacitated, 
the family or guardian of the individual requests such collabora-
tion. 
‘‘(3) In the case of a plan required by subsection (a) for a 
member of the Armed Forces who is serving on active duty, the 
Secretary shall collaborate with the Secretary of Defense in the 
development of such plan. 
‘‘(4) In developing vocational rehabilitation objectives required 
under subsection (b)(1) and in conducting the assessment required 
under subsection (c), the Secretary shall act through the Under 
Secretary for Health in coordination with the Vocational Rehabilita-
tion and Employment Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
‘‘(f) EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) PERIODIC REVIEW BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall 
periodically review the effectiveness of each plan developed 
under subsection (a). The Secretary shall refine each such plan 
as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of such review. 
‘‘(2) REQUEST FOR REVIEW BY VETERANS.—In addition to 
the periodic review required by paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall conduct a review of the plan for an individual under 
paragraph (1) at the request of the individual, or in the case 
of an individual who is incapacitated, at the request of the 
guardian or designee of the individual. 
‘‘(g) STATE DESIGNATED PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEM 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘State protection and advocacy 
system’ means a system established in a State under subtitle C 
of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights 
Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15041 et seq.) to protect and advocate 
for the rights of persons with development disabilities. 
‘‘§ 1710D. Traumatic brain injury: comprehensive program 
for long-term rehabilitation 
‘‘(a) COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM.—In developing plans for the 
rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals with traumatic brain 
injury under section 1710C of this title, the Secretary shall develop 
and carry out a comprehensive program of long-term care for post- 
acute traumatic brain injury rehabilitation that includes residential,
H. R. 4986—487 
community, and home-based components utilizing interdisciplinary 
treatment teams. 
‘‘(b) LOCATION OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall carry out 
the program developed under subsection (a) in each Department 
polytrauma rehabilitation center designated by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY.—A veteran is eligible for care under the pro-
gram developed under subsection (a) if the veteran is otherwise 
eligible to receive hospital care and medical services under section 
1710 of this title and— 
‘‘(1) served on active duty in a theater of combat operations 
(as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Defense) during a period of war after the Persian 
Gulf War, or in combat against a hostile force during a period 
of hostilities (as defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title) 
after November 11, 1998; 
‘‘(2) is diagnosed as suffering from moderate to severe 
traumatic brain injury; and 
‘‘(3) is unable to manage routine activities of daily living 
without supervision or assistance, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a report containing the following 
information: 
‘‘(1) A description of the operation of the program. 
‘‘(2) The number of veterans provided care under the pro-
gram during the year preceding such report. 
‘‘(3) The cost of operating the program during the year 
preceding such report.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 1710B the following new items: 
‘‘1710C. Traumatic brain injury: plans for rehabilitation and reintegration into the 
community. 
‘‘1710D. Traumatic brain injury: comprehensive plan for long-term rehabilitation.’’. 
SEC. 1703. USE OF NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILI-
TIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF REHABILITATION AND 
COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION PLANS FOR TRAUMATIC 
BRAIN INJURY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1710D, as added 
by section 1702, the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1710E. Traumatic brain injury: use of non-Department 
facilities for rehabilitation 
‘‘(a) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary, in imple-
menting and carrying out a plan developed under section 1710C 
of this title, may provide hospital care and medical services through 
cooperative agreements with appropriate public or private entities 
that have established long-term neurobehavioral rehabilitation and 
recovery programs. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORITIES OF STATE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYS-
TEMS.—Nothing in subtitle C of the Developmental Disabilities 
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 shall be construed as 
preventing a State protection and advocacy system (as defined
H. R. 4986—488 
in section 1710C(g) of this title) from exercising the authorities 
described in such subtitle with respect to individuals provided 
rehabilitative treatment or services under section 1710C of this 
title in a non-Department facility.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 1710D, as added by section 1702, the following new 
item: 
‘‘1710E. Traumatic brain injury: use of non-Departmental facilities for rehabilita-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 1704. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CLINICAL CARE PROGRAM 
ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To improve the provision of health care by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with traumatic 
brain injuries, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(1) conduct research, including— 
(A) research on the sequelae of mild to severe forms 
of traumatic brain injury; 
(B) research on visually-related neurological conditions; 
(C) research on seizure disorders; 
(D) research on means of improving the diagnosis, 
rehabilitative treatment, and prevention of such sequelae; 
(E) research to determine the most effective cognitive 
and physical therapies for such sequelae; 
(F) research on dual diagnosis of post-traumatic stress 
disorder and traumatic brain injury; 
(G) research on improving facilities of the Department 
concentrating on traumatic brain injury care; and 
(H) research on improving the delivery of traumatic 
brain injury care by the Department; 
(2) educate and train health care personnel of the Depart-
ment in recognizing and treating traumatic brain injury; and 
(3) develop improved models and systems for the furnishing 
of traumatic brain injury care by the Department. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out research under subsection 
(a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall collaborate with— 
(1) facilities that conduct research on rehabilitation for 
individuals with traumatic brain injury; 
(2) facilities that receive grants for such research from 
the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research of the Department of Education; and 
(3) the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center of the 
Department of Defense and other relevant programs of the 
Federal Government (including Centers of Excellence). 
(c) DISSEMINATION OF USEFUL INFORMATION.—The Under Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs for Health shall ensure that information 
produced by the research, education and training, and clinical activi-
ties conducted under this section that may be useful for other 
activities of the Veterans Health Administration is disseminated 
throughout the Veterans Health Administration. 
(d) TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY REGISTRY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish and maintain a registry to be known as the ‘‘Trau-
matic Brain Injury Veterans Health Registry’’ (in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘Registry’’).