Comprehensive Assistance for Veterans Exposed to Traumatic Stressors Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-5244
Sponsor: Rep. Evans, Lane [D-IL-17]
Introduced: 2004-10-07 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Access to health care
Administrative procedure
Afghanistan
Ambulatory care
Armed forces abroad
Case management
Clinics
Communication in medicine
Community health services
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Continuum of care
Counseling
Crime and Law Enforcement
Curricula
Department of Defense
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability evaluation
Disabled
Distance education
Drug abuse
Drug abuse treatment
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electronic government information
Employee training
Executive reorganization
Families
Family services
Federal advisory bodies
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publications
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Guerrilla warfare
Health
Health counseling
Health education
Health planning
Higher education
Homeless
Housing and Community Development
Informed consent (Medical law)
Internet
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Law
Medical education
Medical personnel
Medical records
Medical research
Medical tests
Mental health services
Mental illness
Middle East and North Africa
Military hospitals
Military medicine
Military operations
Pain
Performance measurement
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Preventive medicine
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Psychotherapy
Quality of care
Rape
Recruiting of employees
Rural health
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
South Asia
Survivors' benefits
Telemedicine
Terrorism
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' disability compensation
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations
Veterans' pensions
Vietnam veterans
Volunteer workers
War
War casualties
Web sites
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: 
Comprehensive Assistance for Veterans Exposed to Traumatic Stressors Act of 2004 - Extends eligibility for readjustment counseling services for Vietnam-era veterans.
 
Requires implementation of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-Department of Defense (DOD) Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund.
 
Requires: (1) the DOD to assist the VA with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related data collection; (2) routine preventative maintenance intervention for returning members of the Armed Forces; and (3) substance use disorder questions in pre- and post-deployment screens and related treatment protocols.
 
Provides for a telemedicine program to support health care providers in combat theaters.
 
Requires a study of factors that decrease the likelihood of developing combat-related chronic PTSD.
 
Extends the enhanced eligibility period for VA health services for certain veterans.
 
Provides for participation by the VA in DOD demobilization and Transitional Assistance Program activities to enhance identification of chronic PTSD risk factors.
 
Requires PTSD educational materials.
 
Provides for a joint demonstration project that stations VA psychologists and psychiatrists at major demobilization sites and military treatment facilities. 
 
Requires: (1) performance measures that ensure appropriate deployment of resources to implement the Iraq war clinical practice guidelines; (2) establishment of the DOD/VA Council on Post-Deployment Mental Health; (3) a plan for expanded access to specialized PTSD care; and (4) additional mental health services personnel for certain VA programs and locations.
 
Authorizes counseling for immediate family members of disabled veterans and Armed Forces personnel killed in action.
 
Establishes a National Steering Committee on PTSD Education.
 
Addresses deficiencies in compensation and pension examinations with regard to PTSD.
 
Requires development of criteria for determining which medical conditions are likely associated with PTSD and when secondary service-connection should be granted for those conditions.
 
Provides for an outreach program to enhance PTSD awareness.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-10-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-10-07
text: Introduced in House