Title: TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act or the TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act
The bill revises the administration of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) caregiver programs. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to formally recognize caregivers of veterans by identifying any caregiver in the health record of the veteran. Such caregivers covered by the bill include those participating in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and those participating in the Program of General Caregiver Support Services.
The bill requires the VA to notify veterans and their caregivers regarding any clinical determinations made relating to claims under, or eligibility for, the specified caregiver programs. The notifications must be standardized and contain specified details regarding the decisions.
The bill also requires the VA to temporarily extend benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers for at least 90 days after the receipt of notice that a veteran is no longer clinically eligible for the program. Such an extension shall not apply to the termination of caregiver benefits (1) for cause, (2) because the veteran died, or (3) upon request of the caregiver or veteran.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2216 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2216

  To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize 
  caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical 
  determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, and 
temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible 
       for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 23, 2019

 Mr. Peters (for himself and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize 
  caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical 
  determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, and 
temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible 
       for the family caregiver program, 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 ``Transparency and Effective 
Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act'' or the ``TEAM 
Veteran Caregivers Act''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATION OF CAREGIVER PROGRAM OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Official Designation of Caregivers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        formally recognize all caregivers of veterans by identifying 
        any caregiver of a veteran in the health record of the veteran.
            (2) Inclusion.--Caregivers recognized under paragraph (1) 
        shall include--
                    (A) family caregivers participating in the program 
                of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers under 
                subsection (a) of section 1720G of title 38, United 
                States Code; and
                    (B) caregivers participating in the program of 
                support services for caregivers under subsection (b) of 
                such section.
    (b) Notification Letters Regarding Clinical Determinations.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, using a standardized 
        letter, shall notify veterans and caregivers of veterans 
        regarding any clinical determinations made relating to claims 
        under, or eligibility for, a caregiver program under subsection 
        (a) or (b) of section 1720G of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) Elements.--Notifications under paragraph (1) shall 
        include the elements required for notices of decisions under 
        section 5104(b) of title 38, United States Code, to the extent 
        that those elements apply to claims or eligibility 
        determinations under paragraph (1).
    (c) Temporary Extension of Benefits for Family Caregiver Program.--
            (1) In general.--Upon determining that a veteran who was 
        receiving services under the program of comprehensive 
        assistance for family caregivers under section 1720G(a) of 
        title 38, United States Code, is no longer clinically eligible 
        for purposes of such program, the Secretary shall extend 
        benefits under such program, including stipends under paragraph 
        (3)(A)(ii)(V) of such section, for not less than 90 days after 
        the date of notification under subsection (b) that the veteran 
        is no longer clinically eligible.
            (2) Exclusion.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the 
        termination of caregiver benefits--
                    (A) for cause, including--
                            (i) noncompliance with requirements of the 
                        program; or
                            (ii) fraud;
                    (B) because the veteran died; or
                    (C) upon request of the caregiver or the veteran.
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