“To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises the Solid Start program (i.e., a Department of Veterans Affairs initiative to assist recently separated veterans through proactive outreach on benefits, enrollment in VA health care, tailored support including for mental health and women veterans, crisis resources, and data analysis) to include outreach to separating members of the Armed Forces in coordination with the Department of Defense. It requires the following activities under the program: (1) prioritizing collection of contact information during transition classes or separation counseling for members 120 to 210 days before separation; (2) collecting Department of Defense suicide prevention policies, points of contact, and referral protocols; (3) calling each separating member once between 210 and 120 days before separation to inform them of transitional health care available under 10 U.S.C. 1145 and provide contact information for the nearest VA facility and a representative of a recognized veterans service organization or accredited agent or attorney to assist with disability compensation claims; and (4) communicating with separating members via text message or email to schedule pre-separation calls or follow up if calls fail to connect. (Thus, program outreach begins up to 210 days prior to separation, in addition to the existing three post-separation calls within the first year.)