Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act

Bill: 111-hr-3155
Sponsor: Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2]
Introduced: 2009-07-09 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Family relationships
Government information and archives
Home and outpatient care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical education
Mental health
Nursing
Transportation costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: 
Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), with respect to individuals providing noninstitutional extended care to disabled veterans, to make support services available to such caregivers, both family and non-family, including: (1) educational sessions teaching caring techniques, strategies, and skills; (2) respite care; (3) nursing care; (4) counseling and mental health services; (5) medical care; and (6) lodging and subsistence.
 
Requires the Secretary to survey and report to specified congressional committees on such caregivers.

action_date: 2009-07-27
text: 
Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and carry out a program of support services for family and non-family caregivers providing noninstitutional extended care to disabled veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. Requires such support services to include: (1) educational sessions, stipends, and access to support services; (2) counseling and related services; (3) respite care; (4) medical care for family caregivers; and (5) travel expenses in connection with the outpatient care of such veterans. Requires the Secretary to: (1) conduct outreach to inform disabled veterans and their families of services available for caregivers, as well as the ability of a caregiver to be trained and certified by a home health care agency in order to be paid for providing such services; (2) submit to the congressional veterans' committees a plan for implementation of such program; and (3) report annually thereafter for five years on plan implementation.
 
(Sec. 3) Makes counseling and mental health services available to family and non-family caregivers of enrolled veterans.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to ensure that respite care meets the needs of the veteran receiving such care, including 24-hour home respite care, and is appropriate with respect to the veteran's age.
 
(Sec. 5) Authorizes the provision of medical care through the VA for family caregivers of eligible veterans, if the caregiver is without health insurance and ineligible for other public health insurance. Defines a &quot;family caregiver&quot; as an individual who provides care to a veteran who was deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom and are determined by the Secretary to: (1) have a severe service-connected disability or illness; (2) be in need of caregiver services since, without such services, the veteran would require hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care; and (3) be unable to carry out the activities of daily living.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes a lodging and subsistence allowance for family caregivers of eligible veterans described above, to cover the time in which the veteran is traveling to and from a treatment facility as well as the duration of the treatment period.
 
(Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary to: (1) at least once every three years, design and conduct a survey of family and non-family caregivers; (2) consider survey findings when carrying out programs related to caregivers; and (3) report to the veterans' committees on survey results and services made available to caregivers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-28
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-07-27
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-07-27
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8822-8823)
action_date: 2009-07-27
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8822-8823)
action_date: 2009-07-27
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3155.
action_date: 2009-07-27
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8822-8825)
action_date: 2009-07-27
text: Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2009-07-23
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 122.
action_date: 2009-07-23
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 111-224.
action_date: 2009-07-23
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 111-224.
action_date: 2009-07-15
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2009-07-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in House