Title: MST Claims Coordination Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
MST Claims Coordination Act
This bill modifies the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims process for claims related to military sexual trauma (MST).
During or immediately after a medical examination, hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals, or other relevant event, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) must coordinate with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to provide veterans who elect to receive materials with outreach letters, information on the Veterans Crisis Line, information on how to make an appointment with a mental health provider, and other information on available resources relating to MST. Additionally, the VHA and the VBA must provide such materials with the determination the VA provides to the claimant in connection with a claim for compensation.
In a claim for compensation arising from MST experienced by a veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system and consents to the notification system, the VBA must automatically notify the VHA before the veteran (1) participates in a medical examination, hearing, or other relevant event; or (2) receives a determination from the VA in connection with the claim for compensation.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7335 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7335

To improve coordination between the Veterans Health Administration and 
    the Veterans Benefits Administration with respect to claims for 
    compensation arising from military sexual trauma, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 31, 2022

  Mrs. Luria introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To improve coordination between the Veterans Health Administration and 
    the Veterans Benefits Administration with respect to claims for 
    compensation arising from military sexual trauma, 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 ``MST Claims Coordination Act''.

SEC. 2. VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION AND VETERANS BENEFITS 
              ADMINISTRATION COORDINATION FOR CERTAIN CLAIMS ARISING 
              FROM MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.

    (a) Coordinated Provision of Materials.--
            (1) Required materials.--During or immediately after each 
        covered event, and together with each covered document, in a 
        claim for compensation arising from military sexual trauma 
        experienced by a covered individual, the Under Secretary for 
        Benefits of the Veterans Benefits Administration, in 
        coordination with the Under Secretary for Health of the 
        Veterans Health Administration, shall provide, to the covered 
        individual--
                    (A) outreach letters;
                    (B) information on the Veterans Crisis Line;
                    (C) information on how to make an appointment with 
                a mental health provider; and
                    (D) other information on available resources 
                relating to military sexual trauma (including 
                information on military sexual trauma coordinators of 
                the Veterans Health Administration, mental health 
                providers trained in military sexual trauma issues, and 
                peer support specialists).
            (2) Format of materials.--Materials described in paragraph 
        (1) may be provided electronically.
    (b) Automatic Notification System.--In a claim for compensation 
arising from military sexual trauma experienced by a veteran, if the 
veteran is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, 
and consents to the notification system under this subsection, the 
Under Secretary for Benefits shall automatically notify the Under 
Secretary for Health shortly before the veteran--
            (1) participates in any covered event; or
            (2) receives any covered document.
    (c) Implementation Deadline.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall implement this Act not later than 18 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``compensation'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) The term ``covered document'' means a determination 
        (including a rating determination) that the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs provides to the claimant in connection with a 
        claim for compensation.
            (3) The term ``covered event'' includes, with respect to a 
        claim for compensation--
                    (A) a medical examination under section 5103A of 
                title 38, United States Code;
                    (B) a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals 
                under section 7107 of such title; and
                    (C) any other event determined relevant by the 
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            (4) The term ``covered individual'' means a former member 
        of the Armed Forces (as that term is defined in section 1720D 
        of title 38, United States Code) who elects to receive 
        materials under subsection (a).
            (5) The term ``military sexual trauma'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 1166 of title 38, United States 
        Code.
            (6) The term ``Veterans Crisis Line'' means the toll-free 
        hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of 
        title 38, United States Code.
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