The Veterans STAND Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer eligible veterans with spinal cord injuries or disorders an annual preventative health evaluation that assesses health risks, chronic pain management, diet and weight management, prosthetic equipment needs, and access to assistive technologies like powered mobility devices and speech-generating devices. The bill directs the VA to provide these evaluations either directly through VA facilities, by referral, or via telehealth programs, and requires the VA to consult with spinal cord injury specialists, relevant organizations, and assistive technology manufacturers when developing guidance for these services. The VA must submit reports to Congress starting one year after enactment and every two years thereafter detailing how many veterans received, were assessed for, or were prescribed assistive technologies, as well as the year-to-year change in evaluation participation rates. The bill also requires the VA to inform veterans annually about the availability of these evaluations and to factor the provision of these evaluations into the performance metrics used to evaluate VA regional networks.
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