State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his compassionate words on the tragic loss of three dedicated, selfless servants in care of our veterans. I very much appreciate that, and it is a challenging time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 324, the State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act. I want to thank Senator Hatch for introducing this innovative and bipartisan bill.

S. 324 directs the VA to enter into an agreement with each State home to pay for medical supervision model adult healthcare for a veteran for whom the home is not receiving VA nursing home payments.

Ensuring that veterans have access to appropriate affordable geriatric and long-term care is becoming increasingly important. In 2017, approximately 9.8 million veterans, or 46 percent, were 65 years or older.

In addition, VA's own Enrollee Health Care Projection Model indicates a further demand on long-term care and support services is coming as the Vietnam-era cohort ages, with most having gone beyond age 75 by 2026.

At present, VA is required to cover the cost of nursing home care in the State Veterans Home for any veteran in need of such care due to a service-connected disability or with a service-connected disability rated 70 percent or more. However, there is increasing demand for VA to offer geriatric and long-term programs for veterans in noninstitutional settings that would allow them to receive the services and support they need to remain in their homes--their preferred venue.

Adult day healthcare programs provide veterans in need of supportive services with companionship, peer support, recreation, and certain healthcare services, while allowing them to stay and maintain their independence.

In testimony before the Subcommittee on Health last year, the National Association of State Veterans Homes claimed that there are a number of State homes across the country interested in providing medical model ADHC services; however, the current basic ADHC per diem paid to the State Veterans Home by the VA is not sufficient for most homes to cover the cost of this program. As a result, only 3 State Veterans Homes out of 153, nationwide, provide this program.

This legislation would correct that imbalance, allowing veterans who would otherwise qualify for more costly VA nursing home care the ability to stay in their home longer, at a reduced cost.

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Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman has no further speakers, I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Long Island--he clearly understands this issue--for his passionate work on this, and we are grateful for it.

I, too, would like to add my voice to this, to the chairman for once again proving to America that this Congress can work, that there are bipartisan solutions to issues that we care about in serving our constituents and our veterans and others. It is something that we are very proud of here. It doesn't always come easy, but his leadership somehow finds a way to bring us to the table. We get it done, and I am grateful for that.

I urge my colleagues to join us in passing S. 324, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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