Bill Summary
The Veterans Residential Care Choice Act is a bill that aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code in order to give eligible veterans the option to receive nursing home and hospital care at licensed or certified residential care facilities. This would be at the expense of the government, through a contract or agreement between the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the facility. Eligible veterans are those who are eligible for hospital care or medical services under section 1710 of title 38. The bill defines "State licensed or certified residential care facility" as any assisted living facility, basic care facility, community residence, enriched housing program, home for the aged, personal care home, shared housing establishment, or other similar licensed or certified facility. This bill would come into effect upon its enactment and would apply to all eligible veterans, including those already residing in such facilities.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could potentially benefit eligible veterans by allowing them to receive nursing home and hospital care at state licensed or certified residential care facilities at no expense to themselves. This could greatly improve their quality of life and provide them with necessary medical care.
2. The legislation could also impact the Department of Veterans Affairs by potentially increasing their workload and expenses as they are now responsible for providing care at these residential facilities.
3. This legislation could affect state licensed or certified residential care facilities by potentially increasing their partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs and providing them with additional funding and resources.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4985 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4985
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to furnish, at the request of an eligible veteran,
nursing home care and hospital care at State licensed or certified
residential care facilities.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 5, 2019
Ms. DeLauro (for herself, Mr. Himes, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, and Mr.
Courtney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to furnish, at the request of an eligible veteran,
nursing home care and hospital care at State licensed or certified
residential care facilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Residential Care Choice
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVISION OF NURSING HOME CARE
AND HOSPITAL CARE AT STATE LICENSED OR CERTIFIED
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1720J. State licensed or certified residential care facilities
``(a) In General.--At the request of an eligible veteran for whom
the Secretary is required to provide domiciliary, nursing home, adult
day health, or hospital care under this chapter, or whom the Secretary
determines is in need of such care, the Secretary may place the veteran
in a State licensed or certified residential care facility that meets
Department standards, at the expense of the United States, pursuant to
a contract or agreement entered into between the Secretary and the
facility for such purpose, if the cost of providing such care to such
veteran through such facility is less than the cost of providing such
care to the veteran through any other available option. A veteran who
is placed in such a facility under this section shall agree, as a
condition of such placement, to accept home health services furnished
by the Secretary under section 1717 of this title.
``(b) Eligibility.--For purposes of this section, an eligible
veteran is a veteran who is eligible for hospital care or medical
services under section 1710 of this title.
``(c) Definition of State Licensed or Certified Residential Care
Facility.--In this section, the term `State licensed or certified
residential care facility' means any assisted living facility, basic
care facility, community residence, enriched housing program, home for
the aged, personal care home, shared housing establishment, or other
similar licensed or certified facility.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to
such subchapter the following new item:
``1720J. State licensed or certified residential care facilities.''.
(c) Applicability.--Section 1720J of title 38, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to any veteran who
is eligible under subsection (b) of that section, including such a
veteran who, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, resides in a
State licensed or certified residential care facility, as such term is
defined in subsection (c) of such section.
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