S. 2333: Health Records Enhancement Act

This bill, titled the Health Records Enhancement Act, aims to improve the health records of deceased veterans. It specifically requires the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to enable updates to the health records of deceased veterans by designated individuals or immediate family members. Here are the main components of the bill:

General Provisions

The bill mandates that within one year from its enactment, the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs must ensure a process is in place to update the health records of veterans who have passed away. This means that observations regarding health conditions and relevant health information can be added to their existing records.

Designated Individuals

Updates to a deceased veteran's health records can be made by:

• An individual designated by the deceased veteran.
• In the absence of such a designation, an immediate family member of the deceased veteran.

Designation Process

The bill states that the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs must implement a procedure for individuals to designate who can update the health records, ensuring that family members or other appointed individuals can take action in this respect.

Nature of Updates

It is important to note that any updates to the health records of deceased veterans will simply supplement the existing information. The original records will remain unchanged; only additional health information will be added.

Definitions

The bill provides specific definitions for key terms:

• Immediate family member: This includes the deceased veteran's spouse, parent, brother, sister, adult child, or an adult person in a parental role to the veteran.
• Deceased enrollee: This refers to any veteran who was enrolled in the Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system or was receiving care through the TRICARE program at the time of their death.

Implementation Timeline

The bill sets a timeframe of one year from the date of its enactment for the required actions and processes to be completed by the relevant government departments.

Impact on Health Records

The overall intent of the bill is to allow for a more comprehensive portrayal of a deceased veteran's health history, which can be beneficial for family members, historians, and for the improvement of veteran healthcare policies.

Relevant Companies

None found