§2.Provision of preventative health evaluations for veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder
This section establishes a new subsection (d) to 38 U.S.C. §1706 requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in managing hospital care and medical services under 38 U.S.C. §1710(a), to furnish an annual preventative health evaluation—through direct provision, referral, or VA telehealth—to any veteran with a spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D) who elects it.
The evaluation assesses (1) risks for SCI/D-related health complications or comorbidities, (2) chronic pain and its management, (3) dietary and weight management, (4) prosthetic equipment needs, function, and safety, and (5) assistive technologies—including spinal cord neuromodulation such as non-invasive transcutaneous spinal stimulation—to maximize motor or autonomic function, independence, or mobility, including suitability for home use, training needs, and remote follow-up.
VA must consult SCI/D program managers, specialist clinicians, neuromodulation experts, and veterans service organizations in developing related guidance or regulations; consult assistive technology manufacturers if affected; and inform known SCI/D veterans annually of the evaluation and its benefits. As clinically appropriate, VA may provide telehealth-based training, programming, remote monitoring, and follow-up for assistive technologies.
VA must submit biennial reports to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs, beginning one year after enactment of the Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices Act, detailing (1) numbers of veterans receiving, assessed for, or prescribed assistive technologies (by category, including spinal cord neuromodulation, with available functional outcomes) and (2) year-to-year changes in the percentage of SCI/D veterans receiving evaluations (covering the report year and two prior years). Beginning one year after enactment, VA must consider provision of these evaluations in reviewing Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) performance metrics.
The section defines assistive technology as a powered medical device or electronic tool for SCI/D symptoms, including powered exoskeletons, speech generating devices, non-invasive transcutaneous spinal neuromodulation, and—as clinically appropriate and consistent with VA prosthetics policies—FDA-approved implantable spinal cord stimulation systems.