Ensuring Survivors Benefits during COVID–19 Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-8484
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]
Introduced: 2020-10-01
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Disability and paralysis

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health information and medical records

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2020-10-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-10-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Ensuring Survivors Benefits during COVID-19 Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to get a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death in situations where the death certificate of a veteran with a service-connected disability who has filed a claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (1) identifies COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) as the principal or contributory cause of death, and (2) does not clearly identify the service-connected disability as the principal or contributory cause of death.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8484 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 1, 2020 Mr. Davidson of Ohio (for himself, Mr. O'Halleran , Mr. Hudson , Mrs. Trahan , Ms. Gabbard , and Mr. Walker ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to secure medical opinions for veterans with service-connected disabilities who die from COVID–19 to determine whether their service-connected disabilities were the principal or contributory cases of death, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Survivors Benefits during COVID–19 Act of 2020 . 2. Medical opinions for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities who die of COVID–19 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall secure a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death of a veteran if each of the following criteria apply with respect to such death: (1) The veteran had one or more service-connected disabilities at the time of death. (2) The death certificate— (A) identifies Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) as the principal or contributory cause of death; and (B) does not clearly identify any of the service-connected disabilities as the principal or contributory cause of death. (3) An individual has filed a claim for benefits under chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code.