Bill Overview
Title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for peer support specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill prescribes that a peer support specialist of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must not be responsible for providing assistance to a veteran regarding a claim for compensation for a covered mental health condition (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) based on military sexual trauma (MST) experienced during active service. Such specialists must only provide counseling services, guidance, and support and must not participate in the adjudication of the claim. As part of the forms for claims for compensation for a covered mental health condition based on MST, the VA must include an option for a veteran to elect to be referred to a MST trauma coordinator at the VA facility closest to the veteran's residence. Additionally, the VA must (1) ensure that its peer support specialists receive annual training on providing peer support regarding MST, and (2) provide annual training on the processing of claims for compensation for covered mental health conditions based on MST to its MST coordinators and peer specialists.
Sponsors: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma
Estimated Size: 500000
- The bill affects primarily veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST).
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides services to U.S. military veterans.
- The bill aims to support the mental health and claims process for veterans who are survivors of MST, thus directly impacting their wellbeing.
- Peer support specialists and MST coordinators are involved in the implementation, but they are not the target population themselves.
Reasoning
- The primary target demographic is veterans who have experienced MST, estimated to be around 500,000 individuals based on past reports and VA data.
- The policy focuses on improving the claims process and mental health support for these veterans without increasing the burden on peer specialists.
- The budget allocation suggests extensive training and service improvements, which should systematically enhance the wellbeing of affected veterans.
- A mix of affected and unaffected individuals is included to assess realistic impact and ensure moderate policy costs.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran, Administrative Assistant (Seattle, WA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is crucial for veterans like me who need support and fair claims processing.
- Having a trauma coordinator could make the process less daunting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Veteran, Electrician (Austin, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm wary of using VA services, but having specialized coordinators might change my mind.
- Seeing structure and potential support in this policy is promising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Retired (Orlando, FL)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important not to overextend peer support roles - focusing them on counsel is sensible.
- Ensuring coordinators are trained is a step in the right direction.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
VA Peer Support Specialist (New York, NY)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training is always beneficial, but we need resources to manage demand effectively.
- Direct claims assistance might require reinforcement elsewhere.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran, Social Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could help veterans feel supported and understood.
- It recognizes the importance of dedicated trauma coordinators.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Vet Center Counselor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Specialized training will improve service delivery and support efficacy.
- Addressing MST through coordinators is a positive development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veteran, Therapist (Denver, CO)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this validate the needs of MST survivors.
- Effective support can significantly improve outcomes for veterans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran, Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't been affected personally, but it makes accessing help easier for others.
- Awareness around MST could help other overlooked issues.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran Affairs MST Coordinator (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this significantly require backend support to be fruitful.
- Referrals will likely increase, aiding direct intervention initiatives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired, Volunteer at VA (Boston, MA)
Age: 64 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving systematic support for MST survivors is greatly needed.
- The focus on training ensures specialists provide the best possible care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $41000000, High: $61000000)
Year 3: $52040000 (Low: $41960000, High: $62120000)
Year 5: $54100800 (Low: $43638400, High: $64563200)
Year 10: $59374260 (Low: $47739480, High: $70800220)
Year 100: $916678000 (Low: $737342400, High: $1098019600)
Key Considerations
- The need to protect sensitive data of MST survivors when implementing training and support systems.
- Ensuring adequate geographic coverage of peer support and trauma coordinators across the United States.
- Measuring the effectiveness of the support and training provided to assess and potentially scale the program.
- Dealing with any potential increase in the claims workload while ensuring the support side does not interfere with adjudication.