Detailed Summary

Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009 - <b>Title I: Matters Relating to Insurance </b>- (Sec. 101) Makes permanent (currently terminates at the end of FY2011) the extension of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage for totally disabled veterans until two years after the member's separation or release from active duty or active duty for training. Makes such amendment retroactive to those separated or released on or after June 15, 2005.

(Sec. 102) Allows veterans under age 60 to increase coverage under Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) in increments of up to $25,000 during each five-year period, to a maximum amount of $400,000.

(Sec. 103) Eliminates a reduction by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the amount of an accelerated death benefit for terminally ill persons insured under SGLI and VGLI.

<b>Title II: Matters Relating to Health Care </b>- (Sec. 201) Establishes, with respect to the provision of VA health care, a priority level for veterans awarded the Medal of Honor equal to that of former prisoners of war and Purple Heart recipients.

(Sec. 202) Provides permanent VA authority to provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to Vietnam-era herbicide-exposed veterans and Persian Gulf War veterans who have insufficient medical evidence to establish a service-connected disability.

(Sec. 203) Prohibits the Secretary from collecting copayments or other fees from catastrophically disabled veterans for the receipt of VA hospital care or medical services.

(Sec. 204) Establishes within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) a Director of Physician Assistant Services, to be responsible for all matters relating to the education and training, employment, utilization, and optimal participation of physician assistants within VHA programs and initiatives. Requires the Secretary to ensure that an individual is serving in such position within 120 days after the enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 205) Directs the Secretary to establish within the VHA the Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury to continually assess VHA capabilities to effectively meet the treatment and rehabilitation needs of veterans with traumatic brain injury. Requires an annual report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on the implementation of this section.

(Sec. 206) Amends the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 to revise participant eligibility requirements under a pilot program of contract care for veterans residing in highly rural areas to: (1) remove the requirement that the veteran participant reside in a highly rural area; and (2) define required &quot;hardship&quot; in terms of the driving distance to the nearest VA facility providing primary, acute hospital, and tertiary care.

<b>Title III: Matters Relating to Benefits </b>- (Sec. 301) Establishes in the Treasury the Qualified World War II Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to provide monthly payments of $1,000 to former active-duty World War II veterans who have not received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. Authorizes appropriations. Requires Fund operation information to be included in annual VA budget justification documents.

(Sec. 302) Prohibits a VA housing loan fee from being collected from a veteran with a service-connected disability receiving active service pay after being called to active-duty service.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2010: Presented to President.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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