Bill Overview
Title: VET PFAS Act
Description: This bill provides eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital care and medical services to veterans and their family members (including those in utero) who have specified conditions and resided at a military installation where individuals were exposed to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. Hospital care and medical services may not be furnished for a condition that is found to have resulted from a cause other than the exposure to PFAS at a military installation. The VA may provide reimbursement for hospital care or medical services provided to a family member only after the family member or provider has exhausted all claims and remedies otherwise available for payment of such care. For disability compensation purposes, the bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified conditions in veterans who served at a military installation at which individuals were exposed to PFAS. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
Sponsors: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans and family members exposed to PFAS at military installations
Estimated Size: 1500000
- The bill targets veterans and their families who resided at military installations where PFAS exposure occurred.
- PFAS chemicals have been used on military bases, leading to significant numbers of individuals potentially exposed.
- PFAS exposure is a widespread issue, as these substances have been used extensively in firefighting foams and other applications at military facilities.
Reasoning
- The estimated budget will need to cover a large population, primarily U.S. veterans and their families affected by PFAS exposure.
- PFAS exposure has been linked to various health conditions, which means a significant number of people may be eligible for either treatment or compensation depending on their health situation.
- The budget limits suggest only some of the expected 1.5 million target population can receive immediate or near-term benefits.
- A range of opinions and effects should be expected, with some experiencing significant improvement in wellbeing due to healthcare access, while others might see limited impact if they are not within the eligibility criteria.
- The population includes those not directly impacted by the policy, such as individuals who may not have any health conditions attributable to PFAS exposure.
Simulated Interviews
Retired veteran (Clarksburg, WV)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy will finally address some long-standing medical issues without adding financial burden.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Veterans affairs advocate (San Diego, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a step in the right direction, but may not be enough to cover everyone who was affected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Nurse (Fayetteville, NC)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My family is slightly affected, but I'm glad to see veterans finally getting support they need.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Engineer (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I don't need immediate support, it's reassuring to know future health issues related to PFAS could be covered.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Graduate student (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Right now, I don't feel directly affected, but it could be crucial for my future health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Veteran entrepreneur (Austin, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy has little direct impact on me, but it could help people I know who are struggling with related issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Military spouse (Honolulu, HI)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm grateful there's a policy addressing these issues, as it's caused us some anxiety over the years.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Air Force (Seattle, WA)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm cautiously optimistic this will bring much-needed help with my medical costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Veteran and artist (Jacksonville, FL)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might not affect me directly, but I'm supportive of initiatives that help fellow veterans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Active duty military (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It feels good to know there are some safety nets for the future, even if it's not immediate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $520000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $620000000)
Year 3: $540000000 (Low: $440000000, High: $640000000)
Year 5: $580000000 (Low: $480000000, High: $680000000)
Year 10: $640000000 (Low: $540000000, High: $740000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $840000000, High: $1160000000)
Key Considerations
- The scope of eligible conditions will determine the cost and implementation complexity.
- Variability in the number of family members covered could affect costs significantly.
- The need for framework development for diagnosis and verification of exposure is crucial.
- Litigation contraints and healthcare delivery capacity at the VA will be critical for implementation.