House passes Herseth Sandlin’s women veterans resolution

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 1211, a bill introduced by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin to expand and improve VA health care services for women veterans. The bill will improve health care for women veterans, including treatment and services for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and newborn care.

With a rapidly growing number of women veterans, Herseth Sandlin believes veterans policy must keep pace with the changing needs of those who serve. The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act will help ensure the health care services offered by the VA reflect the rising percentage of women veterans by prioritizing their unique health care needs, according to a statement from Herseth Sandlin’s office.

“Unfortunately, services at VA facilities often fall short of properly providing for the health care needs of women,”  Herseth Sandlin said. “There is too much fragmentation of care and there are too few clinicians with the correct training and experience. Child care considerations are not being adequately met for male or female veterans, and, currently, the VA does not cover care for the newborn child of an eligible veteran. In addressing these challenges and others, H.R. 1211 will help the VA better provide the services and care that our women veterans need.”

Two key areas of concern the Veterans Health Care Improvement Act addresses are child care and newborn care.

Child care concerns have emerged as a crucial issue for women veterans seeking care. Sometimes, veterans without access to appropriate child care are forced to forgo important health care appointments. H.R. 1211 begins to combat this issue by authorizing a child care pilot program for patients and requires the VA to carry out this study in at least three Veterans Service Networks. Possible forms of child care assistance include stipends for child-care centers, the development of partnerships with private agencies and collaboration with other Federal agencies that have similar programs.

H.R. 1211 also requires the VA to provide seven days of medical care for the newborn children of women veterans. Currently, the VA has no provision to provide care for these infants. However, 86 percent of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom women veterans are under the age of 40 and this benefit represents an important updating of VA policy.

Additionally, H.R. 1211 authorizes the VA to conduct two important studies. First, the VA will examine barriers to health care that women veterans experience within the VA system. This study will examine the full range of barriers including the stigma of seeking mental health care services, the availability of child care, the lack of comprehensive primary care, and the sensitivity of VA providers regarding gender-specific issues. The second study is a comprehensive assessment of the VA’s women health program with the task of developing a strategy to improve services at every VA medical center.

The bill also works to enhance the VA’s sexual trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder programs for women by requiring the Secretary of the VA to ensure all mental health professionals have been properly and consistently trained to help women veterans. Rep. Herseth Sandlin added, “Women veterans who have suffered such attacks have already suffered enough. They need to know, before they begin treatment, every VA mental health professional is prepared to help them and understands the best methods and practices, and can make them feel secure in seeking treatment.”

Finally, the bill requires the VA to add recently separated women and minority veterans to serve on key advisory committees such as the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.