Bill113th Congress

S. 131

Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2013

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Introduced
Jan 24, 2013
Origin Chamber
Senate
Policy Area
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest Action
Sep 17, 2013

Sponsor

Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]

Democrat·WA
Bioguide ID: M001111
First Name: Patty
Last Name: Murray
By Request: N
4
Cosponsors
1
Committees
8
Actions
0
Amendments
1
Related Bills
17
Subjects
2
Summaries
4
Titles
2
Text Versions

Bill Details

Update Date
Jan 11, 2023
Origin Chamber
Senate
Bill Type
S
Bill Number
131
Congress
113
Introduced Date
Jan 24, 2013
Policy Area
Armed Forces and National Security
Is Law
No
Sep 17, 2013Calendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 185.

Source: Senate

Sep 17, 2013Committee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-106. Minority views filed.

Source: Senate

Sep 17, 2013Committee14000

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-106. Minority views filed.

Source: Library of Congress

Jul 24, 2013Committee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Source: Senate

May 9, 2013Committee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-203.

Source: Senate

Jan 24, 2013IntroReferral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Source: Senate

Jan 24, 2013IntroReferralB00100

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S286-287)

Source: Library of Congress

Jan 24, 2013IntroReferral10000

Introduced in Senate

Source: Library of Congress

Introduced in Senate· Jan 24, 20130

Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2013 - Includes fertility counseling and treatment within authorized Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical services. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish such counseling and treatment, including the use of assisted reproductive technology, to a spouse or surrogate of a severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in the line of duty and who is enrolled in the VA health care system, as long as the spouse and veteran apply jointly for such counseling and treatment.

Authorizes the Secretary to pay to any such veteran an amount to assist in the adoption of one or more children.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) report annually to the congressional veterans committees on the counseling and treatment provided under this Act; (2) prescribe regulations on the furnishing of such counseling, treatment, and adoption assistance; and (3) coordinate the furnishing of such counseling and treatment with that provided by the Department of Defense (DOD).

Directs the Secretary to facilitate research conducted collaboratively by the Secretaries of Defense and Health and Human Services (HHS) in order to improve VA's ability to meet the long-term reproductive health care needs of veterans who have a service-connected genitourinary disability or a condition that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, such as a spinal cord injury, that affects the veterans' ability to reproduce.

Requires the Secretary to enhance the capabilities of the VA women veterans contact center: (1) to respond to requests for assistance with accessing VA health care and benefits, and (2) for referral to community resources to obtain assistance with services not furnished by the VA.

Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 relating to a pilot program of group retreat reintegration and readjustment counseling for women veterans recently separated from service to: (1) increase from at least 3 to at least 14 the number of locations for such counseling, and (2) extend the pilot program for an additional 2 years.

Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program of providing child care assistance to veterans receiving or in need of VA readjustment counseling and related mental health services.

Directs the Secretary to impose, as a contract condition, a contractor user fee with respect to each contract entered into by the VA for a good or service. Provides for the determination of fee amounts. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such fee if the contractor is an individual or a small business. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Veterans Affairs Fertility Counseling and Treatment Fund. Provides for the deposit into such Fund of all contractor user fee amounts.

Reported to Senate with amendment(s)· Sep 17, 20131

Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) Includes fertility counseling and treatment within authorized Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical services.

(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to furnish such counseling and treatment, including the use of assisted reproductive technology, to a spouse or surrogate of a severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in the line of duty and who is enrolled in the VA health care system, as long as the spouse and veteran apply jointly for such counseling and treatment.

(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to pay to any such veteran an amount to assist in the adoption of one or more children. Provides cost limits.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations on the furnishing of such counseling, treatment, and adoption assistance.

(Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to share best practices and facilitate referrals on the furnishing of such counseling and treatment.

(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to facilitate research conducted collaboratively by the Secretaries of Defense and Health and Human Services (HHS) in order to improve VA's ability to meet the long-term reproductive health care needs of veterans who have a service-connected genitourinary disability or a condition that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, such as a spinal cord injury, that affects the veterans' ability to reproduce. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on such research.

(Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to report annually to the congressional veterans committees on the counseling and treatment provided under this Act.

(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of providing assistance to veterans to obtain child care during the period they are receiving mental health services. Requires the program to be carried out in at least three Veterans Integrated Service Networks selected by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to carry out a similar program to provide assistance to the primary caretaker of a child or children who is receiving or in need of readjustment counseling and related mental health services from the VA. Requires the latter program to be carried out in at least three Readjustment Counseling Service Regions selected by the Secretary.

(Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary to provide, through the Readjustment Counseling Service of the Veterans Health Administration, reintegration and readjustment services in group retreat settings to women veterans who are recently separated from service after a prolonged deployment. Requires the receipt of services to be at the election of the veteran. Repeals superseded pilot program authority under the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Senate· Standing
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdoption and foster careChild care and developmentCongressional oversightDepartment of Veterans AffairsGovernment information and archivesHealth care coverage and accessMedical researchMental healthPublic contracts and procurementResearch administration and fundingSex and reproductive healthSmall businessUser charges and feesVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' medical careWomen's health

Reported to Senate

Sep 17, 2013

Introduced in Senate

Jan 24, 2013

Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2013 — Informed