H.R. 4114: Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition Act

This bill, known as the Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition Act or the EVEST Act, aims to improve the process through which veterans enroll in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patient enrollment system. Here are its main provisions:

Automatic Enrollment of Veterans

The bill proposes that the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to automatically enroll eligible veterans into the VA's patient enrollment system. This enrollment must occur within 60 days of receiving required information about the veteran. The eligible veterans include those who are discharged or separated from the Armed Forces on or after a specified date, which is 90 days before the enactment of this Act.

Information Requirements

For the enrollment process, the Secretary will need information deemed necessary for enrollment, which will be received from specified military records. Following the enrollment, veterans will receive:

• Notice of their enrollment.
• Instructions on how to opt out of the enrollment if they choose.
• Guidance on how to enroll at a later date if they do not wish to enroll immediately.

Communication Methods

To ensure that veterans receive the information, the Secretary will provide notifications both in physical mail and electronically, where possible, including the potential use of mass texting services.

Access to Electronic Certificates

By August 1, 2026, the Secretary is also required to put into place a system whereby veterans can access their certificate of eligibility for enrollment electronically and have a way to opt out of enrollment online.

Reporting Requirements

Within one year of the first veteran's enrollment, the Secretary must submit a report detailing the challenges encountered during implementation and how these challenges were addressed. This report will also include any additional relevant information that could assist other federal agencies in similar automatic enrollment efforts.

GAO Study on Notification Methods

Lastly, within 180 days after the law is enacted, the Comptroller General of the United States is tasked with conducting a study to identify the best methods for notifying veterans about their automatic enrollment. This study will consider the veterans’ age and their residence in either urban or rural areas to tailor the notification methods effectively.

Relevant Companies

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