AN ACT ESTABLISHING A VETERANS' AND MILITARY HEALTHCARE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT OF STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES IN NAVIGATING FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5415
February Session, 2026

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A VETERANS' AND MILITARY
HEALTHCARE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE COORDINATION AND
OVERSIGHT OF STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES IN NAVIGATING
FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS, MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) There is established an 1
Office of the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman, which 2
shall be within the Office of the Healthcare Advocate for administrative 3
purposes only, to (1) coordinate with various resources, including, but 4
not limited to, veterans' service officers and municipal veterans 5
representatives, in assisting veterans who are eligible to receive health 6
care through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and 7
caregivers of such veterans, with navigating the health care system 8
administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, (2) 9
coordinate with various resources in assisting active and retired 10
members of the armed forces and National Guard and the families of 11
such members who are eligible to receive health care through the United 12
States Department of Defense, and caregivers of such members and 13
families, with navigating the health care system administered by the 14
United States Department of Defense, and (3) advocate for increased 15
coordination among such various resources when deficiencies in such 16
coordination are identified. The Governor shall appoint a Veterans' and 17
Military Healthcare Ombudsman , who shall be selected from among 18
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individuals with expertise and experience in a field concerning the 19
health care of veterans, members of the armed forces and their families, 20
to head the office. 21
(b) The Office of the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman 22
shall: 23
(1) Receive, review and attempt to resolve any complaints from 24
eligible persons and caregivers described in subsection (a) of this section 25
regarding obstacles to applying for or receiving health care through the 26
United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States 27
Department of Defense, including, but not limited to, difficulties in 28
accessing assistance from existing state and municipal resources; 29
(2) Compile and analyze data on complaints described in subdivision 30
(1) of this subsection; 31
(3) Assist such eligible persons and caregivers in understanding their 32
rights and responsibilities in relation to the health care system 33
administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the 34
United States Department of Defense, as applicable; 35
(4) Provide information to the public, agencies, legislators and others 36
regarding the problems and concerns of such eligible persons and 37
caregivers and make recommendations for resolving those problems 38
and concerns; 39
(5) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of 40
federal laws, regulations and policies relating to the health care systems 41
administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and 42
the United States Department of Defense and recommend any changes 43
the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman deems necessary; 44
(6) Disseminate information concerning the availability of the Office 45
of the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman to assist such 46
persons and caregivers with any health care concerns relevant to such 47
persons or caregivers; and 48
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(7) Take any other actions necessary to fulfill the duties of the Office 49
of the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman and the Veterans' 50
and Military Healthcare Ombudsman as set forth in this subsection. 51
(c) On or before October 1, 2027, the Veterans' and Military 52
Healthcare Ombudsman, in consultation with the Commissioner of 53
Veterans Affairs and the Adjutant General, shall, within available 54
appropriations, establish and maintain a veterans' and military health 55
care education course that shall include educational presentations and 56
materials regarding the health care systems administered by the United 57
States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States 58
Department of Defense and state and local resources available to eligible 59
persons and caregivers described in subsection (a) of this section in 60
navigating such systems. 61
(d) On or before January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the 62
Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman shall submit a report, in 63
accordance with the provisions of section 11 -4a of the general statutes, 64
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 65
cognizance of matters relating to veterans' and military affairs, on (1) the 66
implementation of this section, and (2) recommendations for legislation 67
to improve such implementation. 68
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section

VA Joint Favorable Subst.
APP Joint Favorable