On April 21, the House passed, 419-0, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (S. 1963). The Senate cleared the measure the following day by voice vote. The bill contains several provisions relating to the health care of women veterans. The president is expected to sign the legislation into law.
Sponsored by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), S. 1963 authorizes $3 billion for several programs and projects, including those related to women veterans. Specifically, the bill requires, among other provisions, the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report on barriers – including stigma, child care, lack of transportation, sensitivity to women’s issues, and personal safety – to receiving comprehensive VA health care encountered by women veterans, especially those serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
The bill also directs the secretary to develop a plan to improve the provision of health care services to women veterans and to plan appropriately for the future health care needs of women serving on active duty in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. A study of health consequences of women veterans of active-duty service in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom also would be required under the legislation.
The bill implements programs to provide education, training, certification, and continuing medical education for mental health professionals who counsel victims of sexual trauma and requires the secretary to evaluate the “feasibility and advisability” of providing reintegration and readjustment services to women veterans in group retreat settings.
The measure authorizes the secretary to require the provision of care to a newborn child of a woman veteran receiving maternity care for up to seven days following the birth of the child and requires the inclusion of women veterans recently separated from service on the Advisory Committee for Women Veterans and Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.
A two-year pilot program to assess the “feasibility and advisability” of providing subsidies to allow veterans to obtain child care while they receive regular or intensive health services also would be established.
