Summary of Bill HR 7158
Bill 117 HR 7158, also known as the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to provide veterans with more options for long-term care services.
The bill aims to expand the Veterans Choice Program to include long-term care services for eligible veterans. This would allow veterans to receive care in their own homes or in community-based settings, rather than being limited to care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities.
Additionally, the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act seeks to improve coordination between the VA and non-VA providers to ensure that veterans receive high-quality, timely care. The bill also includes provisions to increase transparency and accountability in the delivery of long-term care services to veterans.
Overall, the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act is designed to give veterans more options and flexibility when it comes to their long-term care needs. By expanding the Veterans Choice Program and improving coordination between VA and non-VA providers, this bill aims to ensure that veterans receive the best possible care in a timely manner.
Congressional Summary of HR 7158
Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into contracts to pay for specified veterans (i.e., certain veterans who have service-connected disabilities and require nursing home care) to be placed in medical foster homes at their request. A medical foster home is a home designed to provide non-institutional, long-term, supportive care for veterans who are unable to live independently and prefer a family setting.
Veterans receiving such care must agree, as a condition of payment for their care, to accept home health services furnished by the VA.
Under the bill, no more than a daily average of 900 veterans may have their care in a medical foster home covered by the VA.
The VA must create a monitoring system to assess its workload in carrying out the medical foster home payments. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must submit to Congress reports that assess the implementation of this program and provide recommendations for improvements.
The bill also extends certain loan fee rates through February 15, 2031, under the VA's home loan program.