Veterans STAND Act

Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712C the following new section:

The Secretary shall furnish (through direct provision of service, referral, or a telehealth program operated by the Department) a preventative health evaluation annually to any veteran with a spinal cord injury or disorder who elects to undergo the evaluation.

The evaluation described in subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) An assessment of any circumstance or condition the veteran is experiencing that indicates a risk for any health complication related to a spinal cord injury or disorder, including a risk of comorbidities.

(2) An assessment regarding chronic pain and, if applicable, the management of chronic pain.

(3) An assessment regarding dietary management and weight management.

(4) An assessment regarding prosthetic equipment, including which prosthetic equipment the veteran needs, how well any existing prosthetic equipment is functioning considering the needs of the veteran, and any safety concerns regarding the prosthetic equipment in use by or recommended to the veteran.

(5) An assessment for the provision of any assistive technology that could help maximize the independence and mobility of the veteran.

In maintaining, prescribing, or amending any guidance, rules, or regulations issued by the Department regarding the requirements set out in this section, the Secretary shall consult with the spinal cord injury and disorder program managers of the Department, clinicians employed by the Department as specialists in spinal cord injuries and disorders, and the organizations named in or approved under section 5902 of this title.

In issuing any guidance, rules, or regulations regarding the requirements set out in this section, the Secretary may consult with manufacturers of assistive technologies and other entities relevant to the provision of assistive technologies if the guidance, rules, or regulations would directly affect such manufacturers or entities.

The Secretary shall ensure, to the extent possible, that any veteran known by the Secretary to have a spinal cord injury or disorder receives information annually about the evaluation available under this section and the benefits to the veteran of choosing to undergo the evaluation.

In reviewing the performance metrics of a Veterans Integrated Service Network for any year beginning after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices Act, the Secretary shall consider the provision of evaluations under this section.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices Act, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that includes the following:

(1) For the period covered by the report—

(A) the number of veterans who received hospital care or medical services from the Department and used an assistive technology;

(B) the number of veterans who received hospital care or medical services from the Department and were assessed for the provision of an assistive technology; and

(C) the number of veterans who received hospital care or medical services from the Department and were prescribed an assistive technology.

(2) For the two-year period immediately prior to year the report is submitted, the year-to-year change in the percentage of veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder who received an evaluation under this section.

In this section, the term assistive technology means a powered medical device or electronic tool used to treat or alleviate symptoms or conditions caused by a spinal cord injury or disorder, including the following:

(1) A personal mobility device, including a powered exoskeleton device.

(2) A speech generating device.

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1712C the following new item: