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Access to health care

Title III: Health Care

Plain-language summaryAI

Veterans who submit disability claims related to military sexual trauma will receive contact information for military sexual trauma coordinators at both the Veterans Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration, along with details about available services such as mental health counseling and peer support. Individuals who leave or do not complete service at a U.S. service academy will be provided information about their potential eligibility for care related to military sexual trauma and can request copies of their service records, reports, and investigations related to such trauma. The section also clarifies definitions related to military sexual trauma and service academies.

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Section Text · Sec. 327.
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(a) Connection to Veterans Health Administration when a disability claim related to military sexual trauma is submitted to Veterans Benefits Administration

Section 2 of the MST Claims Coordination Act ( Public Law 117–303 ; 38 U.S.C. 1166 note) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)(1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (C), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; and

(B)

by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following:

(D)

the contact information for the nearest military sexual trauma coordinator for the veteran at the Veterans Benefits Administration and a description of the assistance such coordinator can provide;

(E)

the contact information for the nearest military sexual trauma coordinator for the veteran at the Veterans Health Administration and a description of the assistance such coordinator can provide;

(F)

the types of services that individuals who have experienced military sexual trauma are eligible to receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs, such as mental health counseling from providers trained in military sexual trauma issues and peer support services, including the nearest locations where such services are furnished, including the nearest Readjustment Counseling Service location, and the contact information for the providers of such services; and

(G)

such other information on services, care, or resources for military sexual trauma as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(2)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

in paragraph (3)—

(i)

in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(ii)

in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting ; and ; and

(iii)

by adding at the end the following:

(D)

submitting a claim for disability compensation to the Veterans Benefits Administration for a disability relating to military sexual trauma.

(B)

by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:

(5)

The term military sexual trauma with respect to eligibility for health care, has the meaning given such term in section 1166(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code.

(b) Care relating to military sexual trauma for individuals who withdraw from or otherwise do not complete service at service academies

(1) In general

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Transportation, shall ensure that each individual who withdraws from, or otherwise does not complete service at, a service academy is provided—

(A)

information on the potential eligibility of such individual for care and counseling relating to military sexual trauma provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

(B)

the option to receive copies of—

(i)

the individual’s service treatment records or military personnel records that document military sexual trauma;

(ii)

reporting forms of the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of Transportation on sexual assault or sexual harassment for which the individual was the victim; and

(iii)

any investigative reports into military sexual trauma that occurred during the individual’s service in the Armed Forces and for which the individual was the victim, which are in the possession of the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of Transportation.

(2) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Military sexual trauma

The term military sexual trauma has the meaning given such term in section 1166(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code.—

(B) Service academy

The term service academy means any of the following:

(i)

The United States Military Academy.

(ii)

The United States Naval Academy.

(iii)

The United States Air Force Academy.

(iv)

The United States Coast Guard Academy.

(v)

The United States Merchant Marine Academy.