Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Warren Slocum, District 4
Subject: Resolution Calling for Restoration of Veterans Family Caregiver Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution calling for restoration of prior eligibility and benefit standards for the United States Veterans Administration's program for comprehensive assistance for family caregivers.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2010, the United States Congress passed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act ("Caregiver Act"), which, among other things, established a Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers ("Caregiver Program"). The Caregiver Act defined a veteran eligible for the Caregiver Program as a veteran who has a "serious injury" (including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma, or other mental disorder) incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001 and who is in need of personal care assistance because of an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living (including dressing, bathing, grooming, frequent need to adjust a special prosthetic or orthopedic appliance, toileting, feeding, or mobility or transferring); or who needs supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury.
The Caregiver Act and Caregiver Program provided for family caregivers of eligible veterans to receive, among other things, healthcare coverage and a monthly stipend based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' hourly wage for home health aides in the applicable geographic area.
In 2018, the United States Congress passed the VA Mission Act ("Mission Act"), which, among other things, opened eligibility to the Caregiver Program to veterans with serious injuries that were incurred prior to September 11, 2001.
DISCUSSION:
Despite Congress' intent of expanding eligibility for the Caregiver Program, as reflected...
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