Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-955
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Introduced: 2019-02-04
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Adoption and foster care

Child care and development

Congressional oversight

Department of Veterans Affairs

Medical research

Mental health

Military medicine

Military personnel and dependents

Sex and reproductive health

Veterans' medical care

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2019-02-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-02-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2019</strong></p> <p>This bill addresses fertility treatments, counseling, and other health-related programs for veterans and members of the Armed Forces.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide fertility treatments and counseling to covered veterans and active duty servicemembers or a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of such veteran or servicemember. A covered veteran or service member is a severely wounded, ill, or injured former or current member of the Armed Forces who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated while serving on active duty.</p> <p>DOD must establish procedures related to gamete retrieval and storage.</p> <p> Fertility counseling and treatment are included within authorized VA medical services. </p> <p>The VA may pay the adoption expenses (for up to three adoptions) for a covered member who is enrolled in the VA health care system.</p> <p> The VA must facilitate specified reproduction and infertility research conducted collaboratively by DOD and the Department of Health and Human Services. </p> <p> The VA shall enhance the capabilities of the VA women veterans contact center to respond to assistance requests and refer such veterans to federal or community resources. </p> <p> The bill permanently extends and expands a VA pilot program related to group reintegration and readjustment services for certain women veterans.</p> <p> The bill provides child care assistance to qualified veterans receiving (1) mental health care services or intensive health care services, and (2) readjustment counseling and related mental health services.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 955 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 4, 2019 Mr. Larsen of Washington (for himself, Ms. Jackson Lee , Mr. Rush , Mr. Heck , Mr. Ryan , Mr. DeFazio , Mr. Kilmer , Ms. Blunt Rochester , Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York , and Mr. Himes ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs , and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to severely wounded, ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their spouses or partners, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2019 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I—Reproductive and fertility preservation assistance for members of the Armed Forces Sec. 101. Provision of fertility treatment and counseling to certain members of the Armed Forces and spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates of such members. Sec. 102. Establishment of fertility preservation procedures after an injury or illness. Sec. 103. Cryopreservation and storage of gametes of members of the Armed Forces on active duty. Sec. 104. Coordination between Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs on furnishing of fertility treatment and counseling. TITLE II—Reproductive, adoption, and child care assistance for veterans Sec. 201. Inclusion of fertility treatment and counseling under the definition of medical services in title 38. Sec. 202. Fertility treatment and counseling for certain veterans and spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates of such veterans. Sec. 203. Adoption assistance for severely wounded veterans. Sec. 204. Annual report on fertility treatment and counseling furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 205. Regulations on furnishing of fertility treatment and counseling and adoption assistance by Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 206. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research. Sec. 207. Requirement to improve Department of Veterans Affairs women veterans contact center. Sec. 208. Modification of pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces. Sec. 209. Program on assistance for child care for certain veterans. I Reproductive and fertility preservation assistance for members of the Armed Forces 101. Provision of fertility treatment and counseling to certain members of the Armed Forces and spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates of such members (a) Fertility treatment and counseling (1) In general The Secretary of Defense shall furnish fertility treatment and counseling, including through the use of assisted reproductive technology, to a covered member of the Armed Forces or a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of such a member. (2) Eligibility for treatment and counseling Fertility treatment and counseling shall be furnished under paragraph (1) without regard to the sex or marital status of the covered member of the Armed Forces. (3) In vitro fertilization In the case of in vitro fertilization treatment furnished under paragraph (1), the Secretary may furnish not more than three completed cycles or six attempted cycles of in vitro fertilization, whichever occurs first, to an individual under such paragraph. (b) Procurement of gametes If a covered member of the Armed Forces is unable to provide their gametes for purposes of fertility treatment under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, at the election of such member, allow such member to receive such treatment with donated gametes and pay or reimburse such member the reasonable costs of procuring gametes from a donor. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Secretary— (1) to find or certify a gestational surrogate for a covered member of the Armed Forces or to connect a gestational surrogate with such a member; or (2) to find or certify gametes from a donor for a covered member of the Armed Forces or to connect such a member with gametes from a donor. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Assisted reproductive technology The term assisted reproductive technology includes in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm are handled when clinically appropriate. (2) Covered member of the Armed Forces The term covered member of the Armed Forces means a severely wounded, ill, or injured member of the Armed Forces who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces. (3) Fertility treatment The term fertility treatment includes the following: (A) Procedures that use assisted reproductive technology. (B) Sperm retrieval. (C) Egg retrieval. (D) Artificial insemination. (E) Embryo transfer. (F) Such other treatments as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate. (4) Partner The term partner , with respect to a member of the Armed Forces, means an individual selected by the member who agrees to share with the member the parental responsibilities with respect to any child born as a result of the use of any fertility treatment under this section. 102. Establishment of fertility preservation procedures after an injury or illness (a) In general The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, shall establish procedures for the retrieval of gametes, as soon as medically appropriate, from a member of the Armed Forces in cases in which the fertility of such member is potentially jeopardized as a result of an injury or illness incurred or aggravated while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces in order to preserve the medical options of such member. (b) Consent for retrieval of gametes Gametes may be retrieved from a member of the Armed Forces under subsection (a) only— (1) with the specific consent of the member; or (2) if the member is unable to consent, if a medical professional determines that— (A) the future fertility of the member is potentially jeopardized as a result of an injury or illness described in subsection (a) or will be potentially jeopardized as a result of treating such injury or illness; (B) the member lacks the capacity to consent to the retrieval of gametes and is likely to regain such capacity; and (C) the retrieval of gametes under this section is in the medical interest of the member. (c) Consent for use of retrieved gametes Gametes retrieved from a member of the Armed Forces under subsection (a) may be used only— (1) with the specific consent of the member; or (2) if the member has lost the ability to consent permanently, as determined by a medical professional, as specified in an advance directive or testamentary instrument executed by the member. (d) Disposal of gametes In accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary for purpose of this subsection, the Secretary shall dispose of gametes retrieved from a member of the Armed Forces under subsection (a)— (1) with the specific consent of the member; or (2) if the member— (A) has lost the ability to consent permanently, as determined by a medical professional; and (B) has not specified the use of their gametes in an advance directive or testamentary instrument executed by the member. 103. Cryopreservation and storage of gametes of members of the Armed Forces on active duty (a) In general The Secretary of Defense shall provide members of the Armed Forces on active duty in the Armed Forces with the opportunity to cryopreserve and store their gametes prior to deployment to a combat zone. (b) Period of time (1) In general The Secretary shall provide for the cryopreservation and storage of gametes of any member of the Armed Forces under subsection (a), at no cost to the member, in a facility of the Department of Defense or of a private entity pursuant to a contract under subsection (d) until the date that is one year after the retirement, separation, or release of the member from the Armed Forces. (2) Continued cryopreservation and storage At the end of the one-year period specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall permit an individual whose gametes were cryopreserved and stored in a facility of the Department as described in that paragraph to select, including pursuant to an advance medical directive or military testamentary instrument completed under subsection (c), one of the following options: (A) To continue such cryopreservation and storage in such facility with the cost of such cryopreservation and storage borne by the individual. (B) To transfer the gametes to a private cryopreservation and storage facility selected by the individual. (C) To transfer the gametes to a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs if cryopreservation and storage is available to the individual at such facility. (3) Disposal of gametes If an individual described in paragraph (2) does not make a selection under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of such paragraph, the Secretary may dispose of the gametes of the individual not earlier than the date that is 90 days after the end of the one-year period specified in paragraph (1) with respect to the individual. (c) Advance medical directive and military testamentary instrument A member of the Armed Forces who elects to cryopreserve and store their gametes under this section must complete an advance medical directive, as defined in section 1044c(b) of title 10, United States Code, and a military testamentary instrument, as defined in section 1044d(b) of such title, that explicitly specifies the use of their cryopreserved and stored gametes if such member dies or otherwise loses the capacity to consent to the use of their cryopreserved and stored gametes. (d) Agreements To carry out this section, the Secretary may enter into agreements with private entities that provide cryopreservation and storage services for gametes. 104. Coordination between Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs on furnishing of fertility treatment and counseling (a) In general The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall share best practices and facilitate referrals, as they consider appropriate, on the furnishing of fertility treatment and counseling to individuals eligible for the receipt of such counseling and treatment from the Secretaries. (b) Memorandum of understanding The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a memorandum of understanding— (1) providing that the Secretary of Defense will ensure access by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to gametes of veterans stored by the Department of Defense for purposes of furnishing fertility treatment under section 1720J of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 202; and (2) authorizing the Department of Veterans Affairs to compensate the Department of Defense for the cryopreservation and storage of gametes of veterans under section 103. II Reproductive, adoption, and child care assistance for veterans 201. Inclusion of fertility treatment and counseling under the definition of medical services in title 38 Section 1701(6) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (I) Fertility treatment and counseling, including treatment using assisted reproductive technology. . 202. Fertility treatment and counseling for certain veterans and spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates of such veterans (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1720J. Fertility treatment and counseling for certain veterans and spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates of such veterans (a) In general (1) The Secretary shall furnish fertility treatment and counseling, including through the use of assisted reproductive technology, to a covered veteran or a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of a covered veteran if the veteran, and the spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of the veteran, as applicable, apply jointly for such counseling and treatment through a process prescribed by the Secretary. (2) Fertility treatment and counseling shall be furnished under paragraph (1) without regard to the sex or marital status of the covered veteran. (3) In the case of in vitro fertilization treatment furnished under paragraph (1), the Secretary may furnish not more than three completed cycles or six attempted cycles of in vitro fertilization, whichever occurs first, to an individual under such paragraph. (b) Coordination of care for other individuals In the case of a veteran or a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of a veteran not described in subsection (a) who is seeking fertility treatment and counseling, the Secretary may coordinate fertility treatment and counseling for such veteran, spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Secretary— (1) to find or certify a gestational surrogate for a covered veteran or to connect a gestational surrogate with a covered veteran; or (2) to furnish maternity care to a covered veteran or spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of a covered veteran in addition to what is otherwise required by law. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term assisted reproductive technology includes in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm are handled when clinically appropriate. (2) The term covered veteran means a severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who— (A) has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service; and (B) is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this title. (3) The term fertility treatment includes the following: (A) Procedures that use assisted reproductive technology. (B) Sperm retrieval. (C) Egg retrieval. (D) Artificial insemination. (E) Embryo transfer. (F) Such other treatments as the Secretary considers appropriate. (4) The term partner , with respect to a veteran, means an individual selected by the veteran who agrees to share with the veteran the parental responsibilities with respect to any child born as a result of the use of any fertility treatment under this section. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1720I the following new item: 1720J. Fertility treatment and counseling for certain veterans and spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates of such veterans. . 203. Adoption assistance for severely wounded veterans (a) In general Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1789. Adoption assistance (a) In general The Secretary may pay an amount, not to exceed the limitation amount, to assist a covered veteran in the adoption of one or more children. (b) Limitation amount For purposes of this section, the limitation amount is the amount equal to the cost the Department would incur by paying the expenses of three adoptions by covered veterans, as determined by the Secretary. (c) Covered veteran defined In this section, the term covered veteran has the meaning given that term in section 1720J of this title. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1788 the following new item: 1789. Adoption assistance. . 204. Annual report on fertility treatment and counseling furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the fertility treatment and counseling furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the year preceding the submittal of the report. (b) Elements Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following: (1) The number of veterans who received fertility treatment or counseling furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, disaggregated by era of military service of such veterans. (2) The number of spouses, partners, and gestational surrogates of veterans who received fertility treatment or counseling furnished by the Department. (3) The cost to the Department of furnishing fertility treatment and counseling, disaggregated by cost of services and administration. (4) The average cost to the Department per recipient of fertility treatment and counseling. (5) In cases in which the Department furnished fertility treatment through the use of assisted reproductive technology, the average number of cycles per person furnished, disaggregated by type of treatment. (6) A description of how fertility treatment and counseling services of the Department are coordinated with similar services of the Department of Defense. (c) Definitions In this section, the terms assisted reproductive technology and partner have the meanings given those terms in section 1720J of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 202. 205. Regulations on furnishing of fertility treatment and counseling and adoption assistance by Department of Veterans Affairs Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations— (1) to carry out section 1720J of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 202; and (2) to carry out section 1789 of such title, as added by section 203. 206. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 7330D. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research (a) Facilitation of research required The Secretary shall facilitate research conducted collaboratively by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to meet the long-term reproductive health care needs of veterans who have a genitourinary service-connected disability or a condition that was incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service, such as a spinal cord injury, that affects the veterans' ability to reproduce. (b) Dissemination of information The Secretary shall ensure that information produced by the research facilitated under this section that may be useful for other activities of the Veterans Health Administration is disseminated throughout the Veterans Health Administration. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330C the following new item: 7330D. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research. . (c) Report Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the research activities conducted by the Secretary under section 7330D of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). 207. Requirement to improve Department of Veterans Affairs women veterans contact center The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enhance the capabilities of the women veterans contact center of the Department of Veterans Affairs— (1) to respond to requests by women veterans for assistance with accessing health care and benefits furnished under the laws administered by the Secretary; and (2) to refer such veterans to resources provided by the Federal Government and the community to obtain assistance with services not furnished by the Department. 208. Modification of pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces (a) Increase in number of locations Subsection (c) of section 203 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–163 ; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by striking three locations and inserting 14 locations . (b) Permanent program Such section is amended— (1) by striking subsections (d) and (e); and (2) by redesignating subsections (f) as subsection (d). (c) Authorization of appropriations Subsection (d) of such section, as redesignated by subsection (b)(2), is amended by striking Secretary of Veterans Affairs for each and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out the pilot program— (1) for each of fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, $2,000,000; and (2) for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2019, such sums as may be necessary. . 209. Program on assistance for child care for certain veterans (a) Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1709C. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care (a) Program required The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide, subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified veterans described in subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive health care services described in subsection (c)(2). (b) Limitation on period of payments Assistance may be provided to a qualified veteran under this section for receipt of child care only during the period that the qualified veteran— (1) receives the types of health care services described in subsection (c)(2) at a facility of the Department; and (2) requires travel to and return from such facility for the receipt of such health care services. (c) Qualified veterans For purposes of this section, a qualified veteran is a veteran who— (1) is the primary caretaker of a child or children; and (2) (A) receives from the Department— (i) regular mental health care services; (ii) intensive mental health care services; or (iii) such other intensive health care services that the Secretary determines that provision of assistance to the veteran to obtain child care would improve access to such health care services by the veteran; or (B) is in need of regular or intensive mental health care services from the Department, and but for lack of child care services, would receive such health care services from the Department. (d) Locations Not later than five years after the date of the enactment of the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2019 , the Secretary shall carry out the program at each medical center of the Department. (e) Forms of child care assistance (1) Child care assistance under this section may include the following: (A) Stipends for the payment of child care offered by licensed child care centers (either directly or through a voucher program) that shall be, to the extent practicable, modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2002 ( Public Law 107–67 ; 115 Stat. 552). (B) Direct provision of child care at an on-site facility of the Department. (C) Payments to private child care agencies. (D) Collaboration with facilities or programs of other Federal agencies. (E) Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate. (2) In providing child care assistance under this section, the child care needs of the local area shall be considered and the head of each medical center may select the type of care that is most appropriate or feasible for such medical center. (3) In the case that child care assistance under this section is provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child care. . (2) Conforming amendment Section 205(e) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–163 ; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking September 30, 2020 and inserting the date of the enactment of the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2019 . (3) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1709B the following new item: 1709C. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care. . (b) Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving readjustment counseling and related mental health services (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 17 of such title, as amended by subsection (a)(1), is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1709D. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving readjustment counseling and related mental health services (a) Program required The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide, subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified veterans described in subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive readjustment counseling and related mental health services. (b) Limitation on period of payments Assistance may be provided to a qualified veteran under this section for receipt of child care only during the period that the qualified veteran receives readjustment counseling and related health care services at a Vet Center. (c) Qualified veterans For purposes of this section, a qualified veteran is a veteran who— (1) is the primary caretaker of a child; and (2) (A) receives from the Department regular readjustment counseling and related mental health services; or (B) is in need of readjustment counseling and related mental health services from the Department, and but for lack of child care services, would receive such counseling and services from the Department. (d) Locations The Secretary shall carry out the program under this section in not fewer than three Readjustment Counseling Service Regions selected by the Secretary for purposes of the program. (e) Forms of child care assistance (1) Child care assistance under this section may include the following: (A) Stipends for the payment of child care offered by licensed child care centers (either directly or through a voucher program) that shall be, to the extent practicable, modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2002 ( Public Law 107–67 ; 115 Stat. 552). (B) Payments to private child care agencies. (C) Collaboration with facilities or programs of other Federal agencies. (D) Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate. (2) In providing child care assistance under this section, the child care needs of the local area shall be considered and the head of each Vet Center may select the type of care that is most appropriate or feasible for such Vet Center. (3) In the case that child care assistance under this subsection is provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child care. (f) Vet Center defined In this section, the term Vet Center means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans under section 1712A of this title. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter, as amended by subsection (a)(3), is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1709C the following new item: 1709D. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving readjustment counseling and related mental health services. .