Bill > HR6376

This bill establishes a new provision for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care to family members and individuals who were exposed to toxic substances at specific military locations with established service-connection presumptions. Specifically, the bill allows individuals who resided at, worked at, or were in utero at these locations to receive hospital care and medical services for illnesses or conditions associated with those presumptions, provided they can demonstrate exposure to the same conditions that qualify veterans for service-connection. The care is subject to several limitations: it is contingent on available appropriations, cannot be provided for conditions determined to have resulted from causes unrelated to the location, and individuals must first exhaust all third-party payment options. The bill requires the VA Secretary to submit annual reports to Congressional veterans' affairs committees from 2027 to 2029, detailing the number of individuals receiving care, the specific illnesses and locations involved, and information about applications and denials. A "covered illness or condition" is defined as one for which the VA has established a service-connection presumption, even if there is insufficient medical evidence directly linking the condition to the location of exposure. This legislation aims to support military families and individuals who may have been indirectly impacted by toxic environmental exposures during military service.

Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6376/all-info