Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2199
Sponsor: Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2]
Introduced: 2007-05-08 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Ambulatory care
Brain
Communication in medicine
Communication in science
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Counseling
Crime and Law Enforcement
Data banks
Department of Veterans Affairs
Directories
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to health facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Head injuries
Health
Health information systems
Higher education
Hospital care
Housing and Community Development
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Long-term care
Medical centers
Medical education
Medical records
Medical research
Medical screening
Medical statistics
Medical tests
Mental health services
Mentally disabled
Middle East and North Africa
Military occupation
Military operations
Nursing homes
Peer review organizations (Medicine)
Performance measurement
Preventive medicine
Quality of care
Rehabilitation of the disabled
Research centers
Rural health
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
South Asia
Terrorism
Trauma care
Veterans' disability compensation
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-08
text: 
Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) establish a program to screen veterans eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, medical, and nursing home care for symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI); (2) develop and carry out a program of long-term care for post-acute TBI rehabilitation; (3) establish a TBI transition office at each VA polytrauma network site to coordinate the provision of health care and services to veterans who suffer from moderate to severe TBI and are in need of health care and services not immediately offered by the VA; (4) establish and maintain the Traumatic Brain Injury Veterans' Health Registry; (5) establish and operate centers for TBI research, education, and clinical activities; (6) establish the Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury; (7) carry out a pilot program to provide veterans' readjustment counseling and related mental health services through mobile Vet Centers; and (8) establish the Advisory Committee on Rural Veterans.

action_date: 2007-05-23
text: 
Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to screen veterans eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, medical, and nursing home care for symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
 
Requires the Secretary to develop and carry out a program of long-term care for post-acute TBI rehabilitation in four geographically dispersed polytrauma network sites designated by the Secretary. Makes eligible for such program veterans who: (1) served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War or during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998; (2) are diagnosed with moderate to severe TBI; and (3) are unable to manage routine daily living activities without supervision or assistance. Requires a program report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a TBI transition office at each polytrauma network site to coordinate the provision of health care and services to veterans who suffer from moderate to severe TBI and are in need of health care and services not immediately offered by the VA; and (2) establish and maintain the Traumatic Brain Injury Veterans' Health Registry.
 
Requires: (1) the Secretary to establish and operate up to five centers for TBI research, education, and clinical activities; (2) the establishment of a peer review panel to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals submitted for the designation of such centers; (3) the VA Under Secretary of Health to ensure that information produced at such centers is disseminated throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA); and (4) annual reports from the Secretary to the veterans' committees on the status and activities of the centers. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish within the VHA the Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury. Requires annual reports from the Secretary to the veterans' committees on Committee activities.
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program to provide veterans' readjustment counseling, related mental health services, benefits outreach, and claims assistance through the use of mobile Vet Centers. Requires: (1) the establishment of two mobile Vet Centers in each of five specified Veterans Integrated Service Network areas; and (2) a pilot program report from the Secretary to the veterans' committees.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to establish the Advisory Committee on Rural Veterans to advise the Secretary with respect to the administration of VA benefits for rural veterans. Requires: (1) the Committee to report to the Secretary on each odd-numbered year through 2013 on VA programs and activities that pertain to rural veterans; and (2) the Secretary to forward each report to Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 0 (Roll no. 413). (text: CR H5671-5674)
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 0 (Roll no. 413).(text: CR H5671-5674)
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5682-5683)
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2199.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5671-5678)
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 100.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-166.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-166.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-05-10
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Unanimous Consent .
action_date: 2007-05-10
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-05-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-05-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-05-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-08
text: Introduced in House