Sec. 7. Interagency working group on caregiver policy
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There shall be established in the executive branch an interagency working group on policies relating to caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces (in this section referred to as the working group ). The working group shall be composed of the following: A chair selected by the President. A representative from each of the following agencies or organizations selected by the head of such agency or organization: The Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department of Defense.
The Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Labor. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The chair may select any of the following individuals that the chair considers appropriate to advise the working group in carrying out the duties of the working group: Academic experts in fields relating to caregivers. Clinicians. Caregivers. Individuals in receipt of caregiver services. The duties of the working group are as follows: To regularly review policies relating to caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces.
To coordinate and oversee the implementation of policies relating to caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces. To evaluate the effectiveness of policies relating to caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces, including programs in each relevant agency, by developing and applying specific goals and performance measures. To develop standards of care for caregiver services and respite care services provided to a caregiver, veteran, or member of the Armed Forces by a non-profit or private sector entity.
To ensure the availability of mechanisms for agencies, and entities affiliated with or providing services on behalf of agencies, to enforce the standards described in paragraph
(4)and conduct oversight on the implementation of such standards. To develop recommendations for legislative or administrative action to enhance the provision of services to caregivers, veterans, and members of the Armed Forces, including eliminating gaps in such services and eliminating disparities in eligibility for such services. To coordinate with State and local agencies and relevant non-profit organizations on maximizing the use and effectiveness of resources for caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Not later than December 31, 2014, and annually thereafter, the chair of the working group shall submit to Congress a report on policies and services relating to caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Each report required by paragraph
(1)shall include the following: An assessment of the policies relating to caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces and services provided pursuant to such policies as of the date of submittal of such report. A description of any steps taken by the working group to improve the coordination of services for caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces among the entities specified in subsection (b)(1)(B) and eliminate barriers to effective use of such services, including aligning eligibility criteria. An evaluation of the performance of the entities specified in subsection (b)(1)(B) in providing services for caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces. An evaluation of the quality and sufficiency of services for caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces available from non-governmental organizations. A description of any gaps in care or services provided by caregivers to veterans or members of the Armed Forces identified by the working group, and steps taken by the entities specified in subsection (b)(1)(B) to eliminate such gaps or recommendations for legislative or administrative action to address such gaps. Such other matters or recommendations as the chair considers appropriate.