Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-163)

The APA Public Interest Government Relations Office (PI-GRO) worked in support of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, which was signed into law in May 2010.

Veterans eligible for this program are those who sustained a serious injury including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma or other mental disorder incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Veterans eligible for this program must also be in need of personal care services because of an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living and/or need supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological impairment or injury.

Among the authorized services and programs for approved family caregivers are:

• Training and counseling.
• Mental health services.
• Respite care.
• Medical care.
• A monthly stipend for the designated primary caregiver.

The act also:

1. Addresses mental health care broadly by specifying that all Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) service members are eligible for mental health services.

2. Authorizes a study on the suicide rate among service members and veterans.

3. Authorizes a pilot program organizing community-based, state, and local organizations to more effectively reach and provide care to veterans.

4. Authorizes several other provisions that target specific veteran populations, such as:

   • A study on barriers for women veterans to health care from VA Medical Centers (VAMCs).

   • Maternity care for women veterans seen in VAMCs.

   • Training and certification for mental health providers who serve veterans who have experienced sexual trauma.

   • Enhanced outreach and services for veterans who live in rural areas.

APA’s PI-GRO continues to work with key congressional offices and other stakeholder organizations on additional legislative priorities related to family caregivers of veterans.