Innovative Cognitive Care for Veterans Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.9005 | Sponsor: Rep. Harshbarger, Diana (R-TN)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Innovative Cognitive Care for Veterans Act of 2022
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement, as part of the Veterans Community Care Program, a pilot program under which the VA may enter into agreements with certain private organizations to provide telehealth, virtual training tools for home health aides, and other services that slow the progression of cognitive disorders.

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 Representatives 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 Veterans Affairs, it is projected 
        that the number of veterans 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 Accountability Office report that 
        estimates such expenditures are projected to double to 
        $14,300,000,000 by 2037.
            (3) As described in the report specified in paragraph (2), 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs also faces both a current 
        and incoming workforce shortage, 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 established 
        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 impairment. For example, it has been 
        found that veterans who served during the Vietnam era and, 
        while so serving, were exposed to Agent Orange are nearly twice 
        as likely as those without such exposure to receive a diagnosis 
        of dementia.
            (5) This data compels the United States Government to do 
        more for veterans and their cognitive care.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR ADDRESSING 
              COGNITIVE DISORDERS AMONG VETERANS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--
            (1) Pilot program.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 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 agreements with eligible entities to 
        furnish to participating 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 entering into agreements 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary may enter into a Veterans 
        Care Agreement 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 disorders;
                    (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
                    (D) the ability to provide services under the pilot 
                program to veterans at locations other than a hospital, 
                nursing home, or other medical facility, in accordance 
                with subsection (d)(2).
            (3) List of selected entities.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) publish on an internet website of the 
                Department a list identifying each eligible entity with 
                which the Secretary has entered into an agreement under 
                the pilot program; and
                    (B) ensure such list is accessible to veterans 
                selected for participation in the pilot program.
    (c) Limitation on Veteran Participation.--In selecting veterans for 
participation in the pilot program, the Secretary shall ensure that not 
more than 500 veterans participate in the pilot program at any given 
time.
    (d) Services: Self-Directed and In-Home Nature.--Each veteran 
selected by the Secretary for participation in the pilot program--
            (1) may select, from among the entities listed under 
        subsection (b)(3) that are accessible to the veteran, the 
        entity from which services shall be received by the veteran 
        under the pilot program; and
            (2) may elect to receive services under the pilot program 
        at a location that is not a traditional medical setting, such 
        as at the residence of the veteran, in lieu of receiving such 
        services at a hospital, nursing home, or other medical 
        facility.
    (e) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on the date 
that is five years after the date on which the pilot program commences.
    (f) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of termination 
under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report on the pilot program. Such report shall include the following:
            (1) A detailed overview of each entity with which the 
        Secretary has entered into an agreement under the pilot 
        program, and the services that entity provided to participating 
        veterans pursuant to such agreement.
            (2) An identification of the following:
                    (A) The number of veterans that participated in the 
                pilot program.
                    (B) The number of veterans that applied to 
                participate in the pilot program but were not selected 
                for participation as a result of the limitation under 
                subsection (c)(2).
                    (C) Of the veterans who participated in the pilot 
                program, the number who, for the duration of such 
                participation, received services under the pilot 
                program.
                    (D) The percentage of participants (disaggregated 
                by type of outcome specified in clauses (i) through 
                (iii)) who reported that participation in the pilot 
                program resulted in the following outcomes, with 
                respect to the individual participant:
                            (i) Quality of life improved.
                            (ii) Quality of life was unaffected.
                            (iii) Quality of life worsened.
                    (E) A socioeconomic and demographic breakdown of 
                participants in the pilot program.
                    (F) Such other information as may be determined 
                relevant by the Secretary.
    (g) Source of Funds.--Amounts required to carry out this Act shall 
be derived from unobligated amounts appropriated to the Veterans Health 
Administration and determined appropriate by the Secretary.
                                 <all>