In committee
Veterans STAND Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer an annual preventative health evaluation to any veteran with a spinal cord injury or disorder who chooses to have one. These yearly checkups review overall health risks, pain management, diet, prosthetic safety, and potential benefits from advanced assistive devices like nerve stimulators or robotic exoskeletons. The VA must actively notify eligible veterans about the exams and can deliver evaluations, device programming, and follow-up training in person or through telehealth.
People affected—The bill text applies to veterans with spinal cord injuries or disorders who elect to receive the evaluation, but does not provide an exact number or estimate of the eligible population.
Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published
Reach28provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
What this bill touches.
Disability access+30Veterans' care delivery+35
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Veterans with spinal cord injuries or disordersEligible to receive an annual preventative health evaluation covering pain, nutrition, prosthetics, and assistive technologies (including spinal cord neuromodulation), and to receive annual notices and telehealth follow-up care.
- Assistive technology manufacturersGiven a formal consultative role before the Department of Veterans Affairs issues rules or guidance that directly affect them regarding assistive technologies for spinal cord disorders.
Who it burdens
- Department of Veterans AffairsRequired to provide annual evaluations, notify eligible veterans annually, consult with external experts and manufacturers, incorporate evaluation metrics into regional performance reviews, and submit biennial reports to Congress.