Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act

SWAN supported this act which was signed into law on January 5, 2021 by President Trump. Its main provisions include:

1. Data collection for all women veterans participating in VA programs including the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).

2. A study on Barriers-to-Care experienced by women veterans.

3. Provision of Parenting Skill Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) for PTSD patients.

4. Changes to processing of and reporting on claims for Military Sexual Trauma: as follows:

a. All MST claims must be processed by specialized claims teams.

b. VA must track MST claims for consistency of decisions across Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Offices.

c. MST survivors can choose the gender of the Medical provider performing any medical examination needed for the MST compensation and pension benefits.

d. Requires the VA to report on the implementation of the recommendations made by the 2018 Office of the Inspector General Report "Denied PTSD Claims for MST"