Ensuring Survivors Benefits during COVID–19 Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4166
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2020-07-02
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: 2020-07-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-07-02
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
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 a veteran with a service-connected disability dies from COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), or complications from COVID-19, and the death certificate does not clearly identify the service-connected disability as the principal or contributory cause of death.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4166 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 2, 2020 Ms. Sinema (for herself and Mr. Tillis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 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 In any case in which a veteran with a service-connected disability dies from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19), or complications caused by such disease, and the death certificate of the veteran does not clearly identify the service-connected disability as the principal or contributory cause of death, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall secure a medical opinion to determine if the service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death.