Bill Summary
The "Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act" aims to improve the healthcare support for veterans residing in state-run nursing homes. Specifically, it amends Title 38 of the United States Code to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to either reimburse state homes for expensive medications provided to veterans or directly supply these medications. The legislation defines "costly medication" as any drug whose average wholesale price for a month's supply exceeds a certain percentage of the payments made to the state home for the care of the veteran. This amendment ensures that state homes can afford necessary medications, thereby enhancing the quality of care for veterans receiving nursing home services.
Possible Impacts
The "Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act" could affect people in several significant ways:
1. **Improved Access to Medications for Veterans**: Veterans receiving nursing home care in state homes would benefit from the reimbursement or direct provision of costly medications, ensuring they have access to essential treatments. This could lead to better health outcomes and improved quality of life for veterans who may otherwise struggle to afford their medications.
2. **Financial Relief for State Homes**: State homes that care for veterans would experience reduced financial burdens related to the cost of expensive medications. By reimbursing these facilities or supplying medications directly, the legislation could help these homes allocate resources more effectively, potentially improving overall care and services provided to veterans.
3. **Encouragement for State Home Participation**: The amendment might incentivize more state homes to participate in providing care to veterans, knowing that they will receive support for high-cost medications. This could lead to an increase in available nursing home options for veterans, enhancing their choices for care and potentially reducing wait times for admission into these facilities.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1970 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1970
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to reimburse State homes for the cost of, or to
furnish to State homes, certain costly medications provided to veterans
who receive nursing home care in such State homes, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 2025
Mrs. Miller-Meeks (for herself and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to reimburse State homes for the cost of, or to
furnish to State homes, certain costly medications provided to veterans
who receive nursing home care in such State homes, and for other
purposes.
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 ``Providing Veterans Essential
Medications Act''.
SEC. 2. REIMBURSEMENT OF A STATE HOME FOR HIGH COST MEDICATIONS.
Section 1745(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``Payment'' and inserting ``(A) Subject to
subparagraph (B), payment''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(B) In addition to payment described in subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall, at the election of a covered State home--
``(i) reimburse the covered State home for a costly
medication; or
``(ii) furnish such costly medication to the covered State
home.
``(C) In this paragraph:
``(i) The term `costly medication' means a drug or medicine
for which the average wholesale price for one month's supply,
plus a 3 percent transaction fee, exceeds 8.5 percent of the
payment under subparagraph (A) by the Secretary to a covered
State home for care provided to the veteran who receives such
costly medication during such month.
``(ii) The term `covered State home' means a State home
that, in the course of nursing home care provided pursuant to a
contract (or agreement) under paragraph (1), provides to a
veteran a costly medication.''.
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