Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3313
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2012-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child care and development
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Mental health
Sex and reproductive health
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-19
text: 
Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to facilitate collaborative research to meet the long-term reproductive health care needs of veterans who have a service-connected genitourinary disability or a condition that was aggravated in the line of active duty, such as a spinal cord injury, that affects the veterans' ability to reproduce.
 
Includes fertility counseling and treatment within authorized VA medical services. Directs the Secretary to furnish such counseling and treatment, including the use of assisted reproductive technology, to a spouse or surrogate of a severely wounded veteran who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in the line of duty and who is enrolled in the VA health care system, as long as the spouse and veteran apply jointly for such counseling and treatment.
 
Requires the Secretary to enhance the capabilities of the VA women veterans call center: (1) to respond to requests for assistance with accessing VA health care and benefits, and (2) for referral to community resources to obtain assistance with services not furnished by the VA.
 
Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 relating to a pilot program of group retreat reintegration and readjustment counseling for women veterans recently separated from service to: (1) increase from at least 3 to at least 14 the number of locations for such counseling, and (2) extend the pilot program for an additional 2 years. Requires a pilot program under such Act relating to the provision of child care assistance for certain veterans receiving VA health care to be extended until two years after the program is established in the third Veterans Integrated Service Network. (Under current law, such program terminates two years after its original commencement.)
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing child care assistance to veterans receiving or in need of VA readjustment counseling and related mental health services. Requires the program to continue until two years after it is begun at the last Readjustment Counseling Service Region chosen by the Secretary.

action_date: 2012-12-13
text: 
Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish fertility counseling and treatment, including assisted reproductive technology, to a spouse or surrogate of a severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated during active duty and is enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patient enrollment system.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to pay, to any such veteran, an amount to assist in the adoption of one or more children.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) report annually to the congressional veterans committees on the counseling and treatment provided under this Act; (2) prescribe regulations on the furnishing of such counseling, treatment, and adoption assistance; and (3) coordinate the furnishing of such counseling and treatment with that provided by the Department of Defense (DOD).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote. (text: CR S8017-8018)
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.(text: CR S8017-8018)
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8017)
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8016-8018; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S8016)
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 564.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Murray with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Murray with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2012-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4303-4304)
action_date: 2012-06-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4302-4303)
action_date: 2012-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate