SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS NEWS from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 09-12-2005

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PRESS RELEASE

September 12, 2005

SENATE VA COMMITTEE TO MARKUP LEGISLATION ON THURSDAY

C               Care for veterans' newborns delivered at VA facility (or at VA expense)

C               Allow providers of care to Vietnam veterans' spina bifida children to seek third party reimbursement for the difference between amount billed and amount paid by VA

C              Authorization of grant and per diem payments to homeless service providers; increase authorization from $99 to $130 million per year

C              Authorization of VA-provided family therapy

C              Authorization of Senior Executive compensation to Director, VA Nursing Service

C              Repeal of ban on use of appropriated funds for contracting cost comparisons

C              Mental Health/PTSD service improvements:

                        ?  Mandate that VA expand PTSD, substance abuse, tele-health, and other                         initiatives

                        ?  Facilitation of data-sharing between VA and DOD

                        ?  Expansion of National Guard outreach and assessment

                        ?  Increase in the number of Vet Centers with telemedicine linkages; and

                        ? Studies of PTSD Family Therapy resources, and integration of mental health                   data.

From S. 1177 (Ranking Member Daniel K. Akaka - D-Hawaii):

C               Requirement that VA and DOD to establish a joint workgroup to study ways to   

                        ? Combat mental health treatment stigmas, and ways to make treatment more                available

                        ? Make VA mental health expertise more readily available to DOD care           providers;

                        ? Advance family/spousal education and seamless transition;

                        ? Requirement of VA guidelines for screening primary care patients for mental illness.

From S. 1189 (Senator Ken Salazar - D-Colorado):

C               Requirement of a VA strategic plan for the provision of long term care.

From S. 1190 (Senator Salazar)

C                Revised provisions relating to blind rehabilitation care.

Original Provision (from Senator James M. Jeffords - I-Vermont):

              Requirement that VA's National Center on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder collaborate with DOD

         Original Provision (from Senator Barack Obama - D-Illinois):

                        Authorization of homeless veterans service provider technical assistance program.

Original Provision (from Chairman Craig): 

            Authorization of provision of mental health services by licenced mental health counselors.

B.        S. 716 (Ranking Member Akaka), the "Vet Center Enhancement Act of 2005."

Larry Scott