1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act” or “SASCA”.
Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act
A BILL
To plan, develop, and make recommendations to increase access to sexual assault examinations for survivors by holding hospitals accountable and supporting the providers that serve them.
2. Purpose
It is the purpose of this Act to increase access to medical forensic sexual assault examinations and treatment provided by sexual assault forensic examiners for survivors by identifying and addressing gaps in obtaining those services.
3. Definitions
In this Act:
Community health aide and community health practitioner— The terms community health aide and community health practitioner have the meanings within the meaning of section 119 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1616l).
MFE— The term medical forensic examination or MFE means an examination provided to a sexual assault survivor by medical personnel trained to gather evidence of a sexual assault in a manner suitable for use in a court of law.
SAE— The term sexual assault examiner or SAE means a registered nurse, advanced practice nurse, physician, or physician assistant specifically trained to provide care to sexual assault forensic examinations.
SAFE— The term sexual assault forensic examiner or SAFE means a medical practitioner who has specialized forensic training in treating sexual assault survivors and conducting medical forensic examinations.
SANE— The term sexual assault nurse examiner or SANE means a registered nurse who has specialized forensic training in treating sexual assault survivors and conducting medical forensic examinations.
SART— The term sexual assault response team or SART means a multidisciplinary team that provides a specialized and immediate response to survivors of sexual assault, and may include health care personnel, law enforcement representatives, community-based survivor advocates, prosecutors, and forensic scientists.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Sexual assault— The term sexual assault means any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the individual lacks capacity to consent.