Government Accountability Office study on casualty assistance and long-term care programs

(a) In general Not later than January 1, 2027, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the structure and execution of the casualty assistance and long-term care programs of the Armed Forces. (b) Elements In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall assess options— (1) to improve the standardization of the selection and management of casualty assistance officers across the Armed Forces, including standardized tour lengths similar to military recruiters; (2) to improve the standardization, quality, and proficiency of training for casualty assistance officers across the Armed Forces in requisite policies, procedures, and knowledge of entitlements, benefits, and financial obligations surviving families may encounter; (3) to develop a Defense-wide survivor contact registry allowing surviving families to voluntarily provide contact information to ensure periodic check-ins with surviving families during significant milestones following the death of a member of the Armed Forces; and (4) to develop an integrated Defense-wide long-term care program for surviving families, modeled on the Army’s Survivor Outreach Services, that provides information about survivor entitlements and access to expert case managers and counselors. (c) Report required Not later than 180 days after completing the study required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes— (1) the results of the study; (2) recommendations relating to the options assessed under subsection (b); and (3) a plan for implementing those recommendations.