Ranking Member Moran welcomes the Senate’s passage of a comprehensive veterans bill…

WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (Kan.), ranking member and incoming chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate passed Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act:

“It is fitting that this important legislation is named after a volunteer Kansan Senator, Elizabeth Dole, who has been a lifelong advocate for veterans and their caregivers. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act will better support veterans, caregivers and survivors by improving access to VA health care and benefits, expanding long-term care programs, strengthening student veteran and military family programs, and more.

“I appreciate the veterans, caregivers, survivors, veterans service organizations, and advocates who shared their experiences with me and provided important ideas and feedback, particularly to improve mental health support for caregivers and protect the right of veterans and their physicians to choose , which in one is the best medical interest of the veteran without interference from VA bureaucrats.

“While I look forward to the passage of this bill and the positive impact it will have on veterans and their families, I am disappointed that it does not address access to care for veterans who need residential care to support them to help them deal with their psychological or material problems. As Chairman, my priority will be to ensure these veterans receive the support they need to succeed.”

Senator Moran’s legislative priorities included in the package:

• p. 1315 – Veterans Health Promotion, Access, Leadership and Transparency for Our Heroes (HEALTH) Act of 2023

  • Improves care and expands outreach and scheduling for veterans seeking care in the community.
  • Prohibits the VA from overriding an agreement between a veteran and his or her provider regarding his or her best medical interests.
  • Requires VA to develop a strategic plan to implement value-based care, which would include identification of a veteran’s current health status.
  • Improves value-based reimbursement models within the Veterans Community Care Program.
  • Requires VA to develop a system to determine veterans’ preference for scheduling health appointments and related services.
  • Requires VA to implement a staffing model to ensure timely access to care while effectively monitoring that care.

• S. 141 – Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023

  • Increases the total cost of nursing home care for veterans seeking non-institutional alternatives to that care from 65% to 100%.
  • Requires VA to coordinate with a variety of different programs to enable eligible veterans to receive home care services and to coordinate with caregiver assistance and support services.
  • Improves home health aide programs for communities lacking home health aide.
  • Requires VA to review nursing and long-term care programs to create more effective management, close gaps in care, and ensure access to home and community-based care services.

• p. 1266 – Love Lives on Act

  • Allows surviving spouses to continue to receive educational benefits under the Fry Scholarship and Family Educational Assistance after remarriage.

• p. 216 – RESPECT Act of 2023

  • Authorizes VA to award contracts or grants to entities to improve the provision of mental health support to family caregivers.
  • Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress the status of mental health support programs for veterans and caregivers.

• p. 495 – Act to expand veterans’ options for long-term care

  • Creates a pilot program for VA to provide assisted living for certain veterans in rural America.

• p. 3466 – VA Medical Center Security Report Act of 2023

  • Directs VA to conduct an annual survey of VA employees for five years and to submit reports to Congress on security challenges at VA facilities under VA police jurisdiction.