The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act aims to enhance healthcare and benefits for veterans by improving community care, expanding educational assistance and employment opportunities, and addressing homelessness and oversight matters. The act outlines detailed provisions to improve various aspects of veterans' healthcare, economic opportunities, disability and memorial affairs, and support for homeless veterans, while also enhancing oversight and administration within the relevant systems.

The section outlines that for two years after a specified start date, veterans and their referring clinicians will make the final decision on a veteran's eligibility for care under the Veterans Community Care Program. It also requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress on the care provided during this time, and allows veterans and clinicians to correct any errors in the eligibility determination.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to inform veterans about the conditions for receiving care under the Veterans Community Care Program, how to request this care, and how to appeal if denied. This information must be shared through various means, including public displays, the Department's website, and other outreach activities. Additionally, a report on these outreach efforts must be submitted to Congress within two years.

The new subsection added to Section 1703 of title 38 requires the Secretary to conduct an annual review of waivers granted to Third Party Administrators for payment rates under the Veterans Community Care Program, and to submit a report to Congress detailing the number and status of these waivers, their impact on healthcare access for veterans, and any trends identified. The first report is due within 180 days of the law's enactment.

The section details changes to the standards for quality of care set by the Department of Veterans Affairs, requiring updates every five years to align with industry standards and improve data sharing. It mandates audits of these standards, collaboration with other health services, and the use of up-to-date data practices, while also outlining reporting requirements to Congress about these changes and their implementation.

The section establishes a pilot program by the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve care under the Veterans Community Care Program. It aims to provide incentives for healthcare providers to enhance scheduling, training, and documentation for veterans' care, reduce no-show appointments, and mandates annual reports on the program's progress and outcomes.

The section establishes a pilot program where the Department of Veterans Affairs hires general dentists and dental specialists to streamline the approval process for dental care treatment plans at its facilities. The program will run for two years in at least two Veterans Integrated Service Networks, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs will submit reports on the program's progress and effectiveness, with recommendations on its future continuation or expansion.

The text outlines the creation of a working group by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a strategic plan for a value-based healthcare system within the Veterans Health Administration. It includes details on the group's composition, tasks, and deadlines, as well as a pilot program to test the strategic plan in various regions, with progress reports to be submitted to Congress.

The U.S. Congress section requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a plan for implementing national health information standards, enabling community care providers to easily exchange veterans' health records with the department. The plan considers challenges faced by small and rural providers and includes regular reporting to Congress on progress and needs for further legislative support.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report within one year about efforts to use value-based reimbursement models in the Veterans Community Care Program to ensure high-quality care for veterans. It also clarifies that this section is not a pilot program and defines a "Third Party Administrator" as an entity managing a provider network under the relevant law.

The Inspector General is required to evaluate how well the Department of Veterans Affairs is doing at identifying eligible veterans, informing them about their eligibility, and providing them timely care through the Veterans Community Care Program, and to report the findings to the Veterans Affairs Committees in Congress.

The section mandates that within one year of the bill's passage, the Comptroller General must report to Congress on the dental care provided to veterans under the Veterans Community Care Program, focusing on various aspects including reimbursement rates, dental providers' satisfaction, and the process for emergency dental care. Additionally, it defines a "Third Party Administrator" as an entity that manages and administers a provider network under the program.

The bill changes the rules related to funding noninstitutional care alternatives to nursing home care by increasing the maximum allowable expenditure from 65% to 100%. Additionally, it permits the cost to exceed 100% for veterans with specific severe conditions, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or certain spinal cord injuries, if deemed necessary by the Secretary based on medical and other relevant factors.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to try to make agreements with local PACE programs to provide services to veterans in areas where these programs are available. PACE programs offer comprehensive healthcare and social services for the elderly.

The bill section allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give grants or contracts to organizations to improve mental health support for family caregivers of veterans. It outlines eligibility requirements, the use of funds, priority areas, and tracking measures to ensure effective outreach and support, with a budget allocation of $10 million annually for 2025 and 2026.

The section allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give grants for mental health support to family caregivers of veterans, focusing on areas with high veteran needs. The grants should enhance mental health services, prioritize underserved communities, and meet certain performance measures, with an annual budget of $10 million for 2025 and 2026.

The section establishes and outlines several programs for home- and community-based services managed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, including the Veteran-Directed Care, Homemaker and Home Health Aide, Home-Based Primary Care, and Purchased Skilled Home Care programs. It specifies collaboration with providers, availability across U.S. territories, support for caregivers, and mandates the creation of staffing models and procedures for program administration by the Veterans Affairs Department.

The section outlines various programs that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is responsible for, focusing on home- and community-based services for eligible veterans. These include the Veteran-Directed Care program, the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program, the Home-Based Primary Care program, and the Purchased Skilled Home Care program, along with caregiver support, all aimed at providing necessary care to veterans in their homes to prevent hospitalization or the need for nursing home care.

The document modifies laws related to assistance for veterans and their caregivers by ensuring that when services are denied or a veteran is discharged from a caregiver program, the veteran and their caregiver receive alternative options and information about other services. It also standardizes respite care to at least 30 days annually across various programs and mandates a review of the Department of Veterans Affairs' ability to efficiently communicate updates and emerging services to caregivers.

The section amends existing legislation to improve the program for family caregivers of veterans by clearly stating the criteria for eligibility evaluations, requiring annual reports to Congress on program statistics like application outcomes and reassessments, and describing how technology and communication methods are used in these processes. It ensures that all data in reports respect privacy laws and include detailed demographic information.

The bill calls for a three-year pilot program to provide homemaker and home health aide services to veterans in areas lacking enough aides. It requires hiring or reassigning nursing assistants, a report to Congress on the program's effectiveness, and updated guidance to help transition veterans to other programs if needed.

The section outlines a pilot program created by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assisted living services to certain eligible veterans. This program is planned to run until September 30, 2026, with potential for a two-year extension, and it will be evaluated regularly to ensure high-quality care and determine if it should be permanently implemented.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is allowed to provide medicine, protective gear, medical supplies, and other assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs to State homes. "Personal protective equipment" includes items like gloves and masks, and a "State home" is defined by U.S. law.

The section describes a process that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must establish within a year to recognize groups and individuals who help veterans, their families, and caregivers navigate Veterans Health Administration services. Additionally, it emphasizes that such assistance must be provided for free, with no fees charged to those receiving help.

The section outlines measures to improve home- and community-based services for veterans, focusing on closing service gaps, assessing staffing needs, and creating care goals, especially for veterans in rural areas. It mandates several reviews and reports, including evaluations of program effectiveness, financial incentives for service expansion, and collaboration with other departments to address care shortages, aiming to enhance the care provided to veterans and their caregivers.

The given section mandates that the Comptroller General of the United States must prepare a report, within one year of the act's enactment, for Congress on mental health support for caregivers of veterans. The report should assess the need, options, availability, awareness, and barriers regarding mental health support for caregivers within the Veterans Affairs system and the wider community, and it details what constitutes "caregiver" and "caregiver programs."

The section mandates the Secretary to create and maintain a public website that serves as a hub for information about specific programs related to veterans. This website must describe these programs, offer tools to assess eligibility for veterans and their caregivers, list procedures for assessing veterans' participation suitability, and be updated regularly.

The section provides definitions for terms used in a bill relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs programs. It includes meanings for terms like "caregiver," "covered program," and "Vet Center," specifying how they relate to veterans' services and referencing relevant sections of the United States Code.

The section mandates that, within 180 days of its enactment and then every quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit a report to certain congressional committees detailing the time taken for various stages of referrals made from Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities to non-Department healthcare providers. This includes measuring the time between when a veteran's need for care is identified and when the appointment with an external provider occurs.

The section mandates that the Secretary must send a quarterly report to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs about referrals for healthcare services outside the Department of Veterans Affairs. This report should include details about the time frames involved in each step of the referral process, from when a veteran requests care to the completion of their appointment with an outside healthcare provider.

The section amends a part of the United States Code related to the Department of Veterans Affairs by removing certain requirements for Assistant Under Secretaries and updating the numbering and references of the subsections accordingly.

This section of the bill modifies the pay rules for physicians, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists working at the Department of Veterans Affairs by including optometrists in the pay regulations, allowing exceptions to pay limits for recruiting or keeping critical health care staff, and authorizing retroactive compensation payments for some employees from prior years. Additionally, it requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit reports on evaluations of market pay and any waivers issued under the new authority.

The bill section states that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs will pay or reimburse the cost of ambulance transport for certain rural veterans to a healthcare provider, including non-Department services. The total reimbursement cannot exceed $46,000, and this provision will expire on September 30, 2026. To qualify, veterans must have a service-connected disability of 0 to 30 percent, not be eligible for other travel reimbursements, and live in specific rural locations.

The section outlines a two-year pilot program by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide dental care to veterans with ischemic heart disease, focusing on those in rural areas. It includes using mobile dental clinics and home-based care, setting up community care networks, and mandates annual reports to evaluate the program's effectiveness and potential continuation.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will create a system to record how veterans prefer to schedule their healthcare appointments, including preferences for being contacted, scheduling without assistance, choosing providers, and desired appointment times. This system will first be tested in various locations, with feedback collected before it is used throughout the Veterans Health Administration.

The bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create and implement a new staffing model and performance metrics for the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure timely access and oversight of veterans' care. It mandates updates and reports to Congress on the model's implementation and effectiveness, with the Government Accountability Office also tasked to assess the performance and recommend improvements for veteran care access.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to create an online health education portal for veterans within one year of the law's enactment. This portal will be on the Department's website and will provide interactive learning tools to help veterans understand their health care rights and benefits, including those in the Veterans Community Care Program.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress within 90 days when a medical center director is assigned to a different role within the Department and provide specific details about the transfer. Additionally, the Secretary must appoint an acting director within 120 days, give regular updates on the director's status, and decide within 180 days whether to return or reassign the director, with the option to extend this period up to 540 days if necessary.

The section outlines the requirement for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit and publish an annual report on veteran suicide prevention, assessing data trends, and recommending improvements. It involves collaboration with the CDC for data accuracy and calls for independent assessments every five years, while also developing best practices for reporting veteran suicides for state and local officials.

The section mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to deliver a report within a year, detailing the necessary physical infrastructure at VA medical facilities to offer dental care services to eligible veterans. It also requires the analysis to consider infrastructure needs should more veterans become eligible due to changes in the law.

The section requires the Comptroller General to submit a report to Congress within a year about the status of various oral health care programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report will assess issues with technology affecting dental care, the department's insurance and VETSmile programs, barriers to expanding dental care eligibility and teledentistry, and the demographics of veterans eligible for these services. It also defines "Third Party Administrator" concerning certain administrative services.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is tasked with examining the processes for how patient referrals are managed within Veterans Health Administration facilities to pinpoint any slowdown or issues. This review must assess the guidelines for managing interfacility consultations and clarify staff responsibilities, and a report on the findings is to be presented to Congress within 180 days of the law's enactment.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a plan that ensures veterans can schedule medical appointments over the phone at VA facilities during their call and aims for timely, possibly same-day, appointment scheduling. Additionally, the Secretary must report to Congress on the plan within a year, and this applies to veterans enrolled under the specified VA system.

In fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to use $5,000,000 to improve mobile mammography services, buy better mammography equipment, and promote these initiatives to help women veterans access these health services.

The section expands eligibility for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship. It allows children or spouses of military members who die from a service-connected disability within 120 days after being discharged with honorable service to qualify, applying to deaths occurring before, on, or after the Act's enactment and covering educational terms between August 1, 2025, and October 1, 2027.

The bill section modifies the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship by removing the expiration for surviving spouses, updating the section references to reflect the changes.

The section amends a U.S. law about educational assistance transferred to dependents, specifying that if an individual fails to meet their service agreement, they alone are responsible for paying back any overpayment to the government. It also clarifies that neither the individual nor their dependents are liable for overpayment in certain situations.

The law changes the amount of time a school must be notified about risk-based surveys from one business day to two business days.

This section describes changes to the approval process for educational institutions participating in Federal student financial aid programs to be eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance. It specifies that institutions must participate in a program under the Higher Education Act, unless they have a waiver showing they can't or choose not to participate, or are trying to join, with such a waiver limited to 36 months.

The section of the bill expands the oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs on educational institutions by requiring these institutions to notify about certain actions or events within 30 days. This applies to both accredited and nonaccredited courses, and failure to comply could lead to suspension of approval. Additionally, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to establish a risk-based surveys database within 180 days of the act's enactment.

The section requires educational institutions approved for Department of Veterans Affairs programs to provide students and veterans with official transcripts in digital format. These changes will take effect on August 1, 2025, and apply to courses starting on or after that date.

The bill changes rules to ensure veterans receiving Post-9/11 educational assistance get full housing benefits during their last semester of study, treating them as if they are full-time students. These changes will go into effect starting January 1, 2025.

The section outlines new rules for approving commercial driver education programs for veterans' educational benefits. It allows certain programs to be exempt from previous requirements if they meet specific criteria, such as being licensed and offering the same curriculum at multiple branches, and mandates that institutions report curriculum consistency. Additionally, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs will establish requirements and consult with transportation officials, while the Comptroller General will study the amendments' impact.

The new section 3698A added to Chapter 36 of Title 38, United States Code, requires the Secretary to send certificates of eligibility and award letters for educational assistance electronically, unless the individual opts to receive them by mail. This section applies to educational benefits under specific chapters of the law, and individuals can change their preference to receive documents electronically or by mail at any time.

The section requires the Secretary to send certificates of eligibility and award letters for education benefits electronically, unless the individual chooses to receive them by mail. These education benefits are available under certain chapters specified in the law.

This section changes the law to allow certain education benefits to apply retroactively for students whose courses or programs were closed or disapproved, affecting closures that happen between August 1, 2021, and September 30, 2025.

The text outlines a program established by the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer veterans training in high technology fields that are in demand by employers. It explains that up to 4,000 veterans each year can receive educational assistance, such as tuition and housing stipends, and describes how the program will partner with qualified providers to offer these programs. The program also includes specific criteria and standards for employment success rates and instructor qualifications, aims to transition veterans into technology-related jobs, and includes a plan for annual reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.

The section establishes a program led by the Secretary to offer educational assistance to veterans enrolling in high-tech education programs. The program aims to provide skills needed by employers, includes specific funding rules, sets conditions for educational providers, and outlines reporting requirements, with a termination date set for September 30, 2027.

In the proposed section 3699D of the United States Code, any changes made by the Secretary to the Department of Veterans Affairs' educational assistance policies must be announced and justified to students, educational institutions, and certain Congress committees at least 90 days before taking effect. This ensures all parties have adequate notice before the changes are implemented.

The Secretary must wait 90 days before making changes to policies or guidance for educational assistance programs, ensuring that students, educational institutions, and relevant congressional committees receive notification and explanation of these changes in advance.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update the VA's system within 90 days to allow for electronic payments of educational assistance to foreign colleges or universities. This applies specifically to institutions that offer approved courses to eligible students but lack a U.S. employer identification number or a domestic bank account.

The section outlines the responsibilities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to maintain and enhance the G.I. Bill Comparison Tool, which helps veterans and their families access important educational information. It also details how educational institutions can be held accountable through feedback mechanisms and requires training for those providing education counseling to veterans.

The section outlines improvements to the reemployment rights of Armed Forces members, including protections against retaliation, expanding relief options, awarding mandatory attorney fees in successful cases, and instructing the GAO to conduct reviews on the effectiveness of these measures and the protections by federal intelligence agencies for service members.

The Review of Investigations Manual of Veterans’ Employment and Training Service requires the Secretary of Labor to review and potentially revise the Veterans' employment and training investigations manual once every two years for five years. Additionally, the Secretary must provide a report of any changes, along with a copy of the entire manual, to relevant congressional committees within 90 days of each review, noting any sections that contain sensitive information.

The Warrior Training Advancement Course (WARTAC) and a related pilot program are outlined in the bill section. It mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report on the program's best practices, cost savings, and hiring outcomes while also exploring a pilot program for employing veterans in conservation roles, aiming to reduce veteran unemployment through strategic governmental collaboration.

The section outlines improvements to the direct housing loan program for Native American veterans, allowing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make loans for purchasing, constructing, or improving homes on trust lands. It includes measures to ensure security, responsible lending, and the ability to refinance existing loans, as well as enhancing outreach and assigning adequate personnel to support the program.

The section establishes a program where the Secretary can lend money to Native community development financial institutions, which in turn provide loans to Native American veterans for homes on trust land. The program includes regulations for standards, relending requirements, interest rates, oversight, and a deadline, with a budget cap for loans in 2025 and flexibility for funding in subsequent years.

The section outlines a program where the Secretary can lend money to Native community development financial institutions, which will then offer loans to Native American veterans for home-related purposes on trust land. The financial institutions must follow specific standards and guidelines, and the program will not issue new loans after September 30, 2027.

The section mandates that veterans who pass away at home while receiving hospice care from the Department of Veterans Affairs are eligible for a burial allowance, similar to those who die in a VA facility. This applies to deaths occurring more than 180 days after the act's enactment, and before October 1, 2026.

The section allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give grants to U.S. states and Indian Tribes to improve outreach and assistance programs for veterans and their families. The grants aim to increase awareness and help with benefits applications, and they prioritize areas lacking veterans service officers and those with high veteran suicide rates.

This section establishes grants for States and Indian Tribes to improve outreach and assistance programs for veterans and their families, ensuring they are well informed about and can access various benefits. It prioritizes areas with a shortage of veterans service officers and high suicide rates, and mandates oversight, performance reviews, and equitable distribution of funds, with a special focus on underserved communities.

The section revises the definition of "surviving spouse" in U.S. law to clarify that it refers to a person who was married to a veteran at the time of their death, lived continuously with them except in cases of the veteran's misconduct, and has not remarried.

The bill section mandates that only licensed health care professionals can conduct medical disability exams in a specific Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program. It requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure this rule is followed and to submit annual reports to Congress about the program's progress and compliance.

The section outlines a requirement for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give contact information of authorized agents or attorneys to healthcare professionals or contractors conducting medical disability exams for veterans under a specific program. This rule applies to exams carried out after the law is enacted.

The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to have disability benefit questionnaire data from non-Department medical exams sent in a machine-readable format within 180 days of the bill's enactment. It also mandates the creation of transmission standards, updates to questionnaires, and public access to related information, and requires a plan for modifying information technology systems to accommodate this data transfer.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is required to update its technology systems to automate the handling of certain temporary disability claims for veterans within one year. While the system will rely on medical data, staff will still be responsible for deciding veterans' eligibility, and manual processing will remain an option if necessary.

The section titled as "Housing our Military Veterans Effectively Act of 2024" or "HOME Act of 2024" serves as the short title for this legislative document.

The section amends Title 38 of the United States Code to adjust the rates and provisions for per diem payments by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to support services for homeless veterans. It allows temporary increases in payment rates, limits the number of payments per year, mandates regular reporting to Congress, and requires a strategic plan to administer grants and accommodate the diverse needs of veterans and service providers across different locations.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to use funds to assist homeless veterans with necessities like food, shelter, and communication devices until September 30, 2027. The Secretary can work with organizations to provide places for veterans to live on Department land and must report annually to Congress on funding and assistance details for these veterans.

The new section added to chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make telehealth services available, as much as possible, to veterans. This includes ensuring access for veterans, Department case managers for homeless veterans, and community-based service providers funded by the Department.

The section mandates that, as much as possible, the Secretary should make sure that veterans have access to telehealth services if they qualify. It also requires that telehealth capabilities be available to veterans, case managers for homeless veteran programs, and community service providers using Department funds.

The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide training for new employees about their duties in cooperating with the Office of Inspector General. This training, developed by the Inspector General, must cover whistleblower protections, reporting mechanisms, legal authority, and the roles of the employees, and must take place within a year of employment.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct an annual survey at facilities with Veterans Affairs police officers to gather information about security issues, including criminal activity and equipment adequacy. The Secretary must then submit a report to Congress outlining the survey results and any plans to address identified security weaknesses.

The section modifies the United States Code related to housing loan fees by changing the expiration date from "November 29, 2031" to "June 9, 2034" in the specified loan fee table.