Military SAVE Act

Bill: 116-hr-5757
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Introduced: 2020-02-05
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Hospital care

Mental health

Sex offenses

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2020-02-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-02-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act or the Military SAVE Act</b></p> <p>This bill addresses care for covered veterans who are seeking counseling, care, or services related to sexual trauma determined by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professional to have occurred while the veteran was on active duty or in active or inactive training. A<em> covered veteran</em> is a veteran who is (1) enrolled in the VA health care system; or (2) not enrolled in the VA health care system but is otherwise entitled to hospital care, medical services, or extended care services due to a specified disability.</p> <p>The bill requires the VA to provide hospital care, medical services, and extended care services to a covered veteran at a non-VA provider under the Veterans Community Care Program if such veteran is seeking counseling, care, or services related to such sexual trauma. The decision to receive such care from a non-VA provider shall be at the election of the veteran. </p> <p>The VA must provide information regarding the counseling, care, and services available through the VA to the covered veteran who is seeking counseling, care, or services related to sexual trauma.</p> <p>The bill also authorizes the VA to provide counseling and treatment for any condition determined to have resulted from a sexual trauma that occurred while the covered veteran was on active duty or in active or inactive training (previously only psychological trauma was eligible).</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5757 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 5, 2020 Mr. Barr (for himself and Ms. Gabbard ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the care furnished to veterans with military sexual trauma.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act or the Military SAVE Act . 2. Improvements to care for veterans with military sexual trauma (a) Community care Section 1703(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) a covered veteran is seeking counseling, care, or services for which the person is eligible under section 1720D of this title. ; (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) by striking subparagraph (C) of such paragraph, or that and inserting subparagraph (C) of such paragraph, that ; and (B) by inserting or that the covered veteran is seeking counseling or care or services for which the person is eligible under section 1720D of this title, after subparagraph (D) of such paragraph, ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) The Secretary shall provide to covered veterans described in paragraph (1)(F) information regarding the counseling, care, and services available to the covered veteran through the Department with respect to the counseling, care, and services described in such paragraph. . (b) Improvements to military sexual trauma treatment authority Section 1720D of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) paragraph (1), by striking overcome psychological trauma, which in the judgment of a mental health professional and inserting treat any condition, which in the judgment of a health care professional ; (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking overcome psychological trauma and inserting treat conditions ; (C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: (3) A veteran may receive counseling and care and services under this section through the Veterans Community Care program in accordance with section 1703(d) of this title. ; and (D) in subsection (b)(2), by striking counseling each place it appears and inserting counseling and care and services .