116 HR 4985 IH: Veterans Residential Care Choice Act U.S. House of Representatives 2019-11-05 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4985IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 5, 2019Ms. DeLauro (for herself, Mr. Himes, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, and Mr. Courtney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Residential Care Choice Act.

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:

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.