118 S141 IS: Elizabeth Dole Home and Community Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act of 2023
U.S. Senate
2023-01-30
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.
II
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 141
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 30, 2023
Mr. Moran (for himself, Mr. Tester, and Ms. Hassan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve certain programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs for home and community based services for veterans, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title; table of contents
(a)

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Elizabeth Dole Home and Community Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act of 2023” or the “Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act”.
(b)

Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Increase of expenditure cap for noninstitutional care alternatives to nursing home care.
Sec. 4. Coordination with Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.
Sec. 5. Home and community based services: programs.
Sec. 6. Coordination with assistance and support services for caregivers.
Sec. 7. Development of centralized website for program information.
Sec. 8. Improvements relating to Home Maker and Home Health Aide program.
Sec. 9. Reviews and other improvements relating to home and community based services.
2.

Definitions
In this Act:
(1)

Caregiver; Family caregiver
The terms caregiver and family caregiver have the meanings given those terms under section 1720K(g) of title 38, United States Code (as added by section 5(a)(1)).
(2)

Covered program
The term covered program—
(A)
means any program of the Department for home and community based services; and
(B)
includes the programs specified in section 1720K of title 38, United States Code (as added by section 5(a)(1)).
(3)

Department
The term Department means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(4)

Home and community based services
The term home and community based services—
(A)
means the services referred to in section 1701(6)(E) of title 38, United States Code; and
(B)
includes services furnished under a program specified in section 1720K of such title (as added by section 5(a)(1)).
(5)

Home Based Primary Care program; Home Maker and Home Health Aide program; Veteran Directed Care program
The terms Home Based Primary Care program, Home Maker and Home Health Aide program, and Veteran Directed Care program mean the programs of the Department specified in subsections (d), (c), and (b) of such section 1720K, respectively.
(6)

Home health agency; Home health aide; Native American veteran, Tribal health program; Urban Indian organization
The terms home health agency, home health aide, Native American veteran, tribal health program, and Urban Indian organization have the meanings given those terms in subsection (g) of such section 1720K.
(7)

Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(8)

Veterans service organization
The term veterans service organization means any organization recognized by the Secretary under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
3.

Increase of expenditure cap for noninstitutional care alternatives to nursing home care
(a)

Increase of expenditure cap
Section 1720C(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking “The total cost” and inserting “(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the total cost”;
(2)
in paragraph (1), as designated by paragraph (1), by striking “65 percent of”; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(2)
The total cost of providing services or in-kind assistance in the case of any veteran for any fiscal year under the program may exceed the cost that would otherwise have been incurred as specified in paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines such higher total cost is in the best interest of the veteran.”.
(b)

Applicability
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any fiscal year beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
4.

Coordination with Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Section 1720C of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 3, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(f)
In furnishing services to a veteran under the program conducted pursuant to subsection (a), if a medical center of the Department through which such program is administered is located in a geographic area in which services are available to the veteran under a PACE program (as such term is defined in sections 1894(a)(2) and 1934(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395eee(a)(2); 1396u–4(a)(2))), the Secretary shall establish a partnership with the PACE program operating in that area for the furnishing of such services.”.
5.

Home and community based services: programs
(a)

Programs
(1)

In general
Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1720J the following new section:
“1720K.

Home and community based services: programs
(a)

In general
In furnishing noninstitutional alternatives to nursing home care under the authority of section 1720C of this title (or any other authority under this chapter or other provision of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs), the Secretary shall carry out each of the programs specified in this section in accordance with such relevant authorities except as otherwise provided in this section.
(b)

Veteran Directed Care program
(1)
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall carry out a program to be known as the “Veteran Directed Care program” under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into agreements with the providers described in paragraph (2) to provide to eligible veterans funds to obtain such in-home care services and related items as may be determined appropriate by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and selected by the veteran, including through the veteran hiring individuals to provide such services and items or directly purchasing such services and items.
(2)
The providers described in this paragraph are the following:
(A)
An Aging and Disability Resource Center, an area agency on aging, or a State agency.
(B)
A center for independent living.
(3)
In carrying out the Veteran Directed Care program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—
(A)
administer such program through each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(B)
ensure the availability of such program in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or possession of the United States; and
(C)
ensure the availability of such program for eligible veterans who are Native American veterans receiving care and services furnished by the Indian Health Service, a tribal health program, an Urban Indian organization, or (in the case of a Native Hawaiian veteran) a Native Hawaiian health care system.
(4)
If a veteran participating in the Veteran Directed Care program is catastrophically disabled, the veteran may continue to use funds under the program during a period of hospitalization in the same manner that the veteran would be authorized to use such funds under the program if the veteran were not hospitalized.
(c)

Home Maker and Home Health Aide program
(1)
The Secretary shall carry out a program to be known as the “Home Maker and Home Health Aide program” under which the Secretary may enter into agreements with home health agencies to provide to eligible veterans such home health aide services as may be determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(2)
In carrying out the Home Maker and Home Health Aide program, the Secretary shall ensure the availability of such program—
(A)
in the locations specified in subparagraph (B) of subsection (b)(3); and
(B)
for the veteran populations specified in subparagraph (C) of such subsection.
(d)

Home Based Primary Care program
The Secretary shall carry out a program to be known as the “Home Based Primary Care program” under which the Secretary may furnish to eligible veterans in-home health care, the provision of which is overseen by a physician of the Department.
(e)

Purchased Skilled Home Care program
The Secretary shall carry out a program to be known as the “Purchased Skilled Home Care program” under which the Secretary may furnish to eligible veterans such in-home care services as may be determined appropriate and selected by the Secretary for the veteran.
(f)

Caregiver support
(1)
With respect to a resident caregiver of a veteran participating in a program under this section who is a family caregiver, the Secretary shall—
(A)
if the veteran meets the requirements of a covered veteran under section 1720G(b) of this title, provide to such caregiver the option of enrolling in the program of general caregiver support services under such section;
(B)
subject to paragraph (2), provide to such caregiver not fewer than 14 days of covered respite care each year; and
(C)
conduct on an annual basis (and, to the extent practicable, in connection with in-person services provided under the program in which the veteran is participating), a wellness check of such caregiver.
(2)
The Secretary shall provide not fewer than 30 days of covered respite care each year to any resident caregiver who provides services funded under the Veteran Directed Care program under subsection (b).
(3)
Covered respite care provided to a resident caregiver of a veteran under paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be, may exceed 14 days annually or 30 days annually, respectively, if an extension is requested by the resident caregiver or veteran and determined medically appropriate by the Secretary.
(g)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)
The terms Aging and Disability Resource Center, area agency on aging, and State agency have the meanings given those terms in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
(2)
The terms caregiver and family caregiver, with respect to a veteran, have the meanings given those terms, respectively, under subsection (d) of section 1720G of this title with respect to an eligible veteran under subsection (a) of such section or a covered veteran under subsection (b) of such section, as the case may be.
(3)
The term center for independent living has the meaning given that term in section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796a).
(4)
The term covered respite care means, with respect to a caregiver of a veteran, respite care that—
(A)
includes 24-hour per day care of the veteran commensurate with the care provided by the caregiver;
(B)
is medically and age-appropriate; and
(C)
includes in-home care services.
(5)
The term eligible veteran means any veteran—
(A)
for whom the Secretary determines participation in a specific program under this section is medically necessary to promote, preserve, or restore the health of the veteran; and
(B)
who absent such participation would be at increased risk for hospitalization, placement in a nursing home, or emergency room care.
(6)
The term home health agency has the meaning given that term in section 1861(o) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(o)).
(7)
The term home health aide means an individual employed by a home health agency to provide in-home care services.
(8)
The term in-home care service means any service, including a personal care service, provided to enable the recipient of such service to live at home.
(9)
The term Native American veteran has the meaning given that term in section 3765 of this title.
(10)
The terms Native Hawaiian and Native Hawaiian health care system have the meanings given those terms in section 12 of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act (42 U.S.C. 11711).
(11)
The term resident caregiver means a caregiver or a family caregiver of a veteran who resides with the veteran.
(12)
The terms tribal health program and Urban Indian organization have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).”.
(2)

Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such subchapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1720J the following new item:
“1720K. Home and community based services: programs.”.
(b)

Deadline for improved administration
The Secretary shall ensure that the Veteran Directed Care program and the Home Maker and Home Health Aide program are administered through each medical center of the Department in accordance with section 1720K of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)(1)), by not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c)

Administration of Veteran Directed Care program
(1)

Procedures
The Secretary shall establish procedures to identify staffing needs for the Program and define the roles and responsibilities of personnel of the Program at the national, Veterans Integrated Service Network, and facility levels, including responsibilities for engagement with veterans participating in the Program, veterans interested in the Program, and providers described in section 1720K(b)(2), as added by subsection (a)(1).
(2)

Staffing model
(A)

In general
The Secretary shall establish a staffing model for the administration of the Program at each medical center of the Department.
(B)

Staffing ratio
The Secretary shall establish a staffing ratio for administration of the Program at each facility of the Department at which the Program is carried out, which shall include a specified number of full-time equivalent employees, with no collateral duties, per number of veterans served by the Program.
(3)

Funding for program
(A)

In general
The Secretary shall develop methods for tracking and reporting demand by veterans for and use by veterans of services under the Program to inform yearly cost estimates for the Program.
(B)

Dedicated funding
The Secretary shall ensure each medical center of the Department receives dedicated funding for administration and staffing of the Program, tailored to demand for and use of the Program at such medical center.
(C)

Separate funding
Funding provided to carry out the Program shall be separate from any other funding for the purchased long term services and supports programs of the Department.
(4)

Program defined
In this subsection, the term Program means the Veteran Directed Care program.
6.

Coordination with assistance and support services for caregivers
(a)

Coordination with Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
(1)

Coordination
Section 1720G(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(14)
(A)
In the case of a veteran or caregiver who seeks services under this subsection and is denied such services, or a veteran or the family caregiver of a veteran who is discharged from the program under this subsection, the Secretary shall—
(i)
if the veteran meets the requirements of a covered veteran under subsection (b), provide to such caregiver the option of enrolling in the program of general caregiver support services under such subsection;
(ii)
assess the veteran or caregiver for participation in any other available program of the Department for home and community based services (including the programs specified in section 1720K of this title) for which the veteran or caregiver may be eligible and, with respect to the veteran, store (and make accessible to the veteran) the results of such assessment in the electronic medical record of the veteran; and
(iii)
provide to the veteran or caregiver written information on any such program identified pursuant to the assessment under clause (ii), including information about facilities, eligibility requirements, and relevant contact information for each such program.
(B)
For each veteran or family caregiver who is discharged from the program under this subsection, a caregiver support coordinator shall provide for a smooth and personalized transition from such program to an appropriate program of the Department for home and community based services (including the programs specified in section 1720K of this title), including by integrating caregiver support across programs.”.
(2)

Applicability
The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to denials and discharges described in paragraph (14) of such section, as added by paragraph (1), occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b)

Technical and conforming amendments
Section 1720G(d) of such title is amended—
(1)
by striking “or a covered veteran” each place it appears and inserting “, a veteran denied or discharged as specified in paragraph (14) of such subsection, or a covered veteran”; and
(2)
by striking “under subsection (a), means” each place it appears and inserting “under subsection (a) or a veteran denied or discharged as specified in paragraph (14) of such subsection, means”.
(c)

Review relating to caregiver contact
The Secretary shall conduct a review of the capacity of the Department to establish a streamlined system for contacting all caregivers enrolled in the program of general caregiver support services under section 1720G(b) of title 38, United States Code, to provide to such caregivers program updates and alerts relating to emerging services for which such caregivers may be eligible.
7.

Development of centralized website for program information
(a)

Centralized website
The Secretary shall develop and maintain a centralized and publicly accessible internet website of the Department as a clearinghouse for information and resources relating to covered programs.
(b)

Contents
The website under subsection (a) shall contain the following:
(1)
A description of each covered program.
(2)
An informational assessment tool that enables users to—
(A)
assess the eligibility of a veteran, or a caregiver of a veteran, for any covered program; and
(B)
receive information, as a result of such assessment, on any covered program for which the veteran or caregiver (as the case may be) may be eligible.
(3)
A list of required procedures for the directors of medical facilities of the Department to follow in determining the eligibility and suitability of veterans for participation in a covered program, including procedures applicable to instances in which the resource constraints of a facility (or of a community in which a facility is located) may result in the inability to address the health needs of a veteran under a covered program in a timely manner.
(c)

Updates
The Secretary shall ensure the website under subsection (a) is updated on a periodic basis.
8.

Improvements relating to Home Maker and Home Health Aide program
(a)

Pilot program for communities with shortage of home health aides
(1)

Program
The Secretary shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide home maker and home health aide services to veterans who reside in communities with a shortage of home health aides.
(2)

Locations
The Secretary shall select 10 geographic locations in which the Secretary determines there is a shortage of home health aides at which to carry out the pilot program under paragraph (1).
(3)

Nursing assistants
(A)

In general
In carrying out the pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary may hire nursing assistants as new employees of the Department, or reassign nursing assistants who are existing employees of the Department, to provide to veterans in-home care services (including basic tasks authorized by the State certification of the nursing assistant) under the pilot program, in lieu of or in addition to the provision of such services through non-Department home health aides.
(B)

Relationship to Home Based Primary Care program
Nursing assistants hired or reassigned under subparagraph (A) may provide services to a veteran under the pilot program under paragraph (1) while serving as part of a health care team for the veteran under the Home Based Primary Care program.
(4)

Duration
The pilot program under paragraph (1) shall be for a duration of three years.
(5)

Report to Congress
Not later than one year after the date on which the Secretary determines the pilot program under paragraph (1) has terminated, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the result of the pilot program.
(b)

Report on use of funds
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing, with respect to the period beginning in fiscal year 2011 and ending in fiscal year 2022, the following:
(1)
An identification of the amount of funds that were included in a budget of the Department during such period for the provision of in-home care to veterans under the Home Maker and Home Health Aide program in effect during such period but were not expended for the provision of such care, disaggregated by medical center of the Department for which such unexpended funds were budgeted.
(2)
An identification of the number of veterans for whom, during such period, the hours during which a home health aide was authorized to provide services to the veteran under such program were reduced for a reason other than a change in the health care needs of the veteran, and a detailed description of the reasons why any such reductions may have occurred.
(c)

Updated guidance on program
(1)

In general
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue updated guidance for the Home Maker and Home Health Aide program.
(2)

Matters To include
Guidance updated under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A)
A process for the transition of veterans from the Home Maker and Home Health Aide program to other covered programs.
(B)
A requirement for the directors of the medical facilities of the Department to complete such process whenever a veteran with care needs has been denied services from home health agencies under the Home Maker and Home Health Aide program as a result of the clinical needs or behavioral issues of the veteran.
9.

Reviews and other improvements relating to home and community based services
(a)

Office of Geriatric and Extended Care
(1)

Review of programs
The Under Secretary for Health of the Department shall conduct a review of each program administered through the Office of Geriatric and Extended Care of the Department, or successor office, to—
(A)
ensure consistency in program management;
(B)
eliminate service gaps at the medical center level; and
(C)
ensure the availability of, and the access by veterans to, home and community based services.
(2)

Assessment of staffing needs
The Secretary shall conduct an assessment of the staffing needs of the Office of Geriatric and Extended Care of the Department, or successor office.
(3)

Goals for geographic alignment of care
(A)

Establishment of goals
The Director of the Office of Geriatric and Extended Care, or successor office, shall establish quantitative goals to enable aging or disabled veterans who are not located near medical centers of the Department to access extended care services (including by improving access to home and community based services for such veterans).
(B)

Implementation timeline
Each goal established under subparagraph (A) shall include a timeline for the implementation of the goal at each medical center of the Department.
(4)

Goals for in-home specialty care
The Director of the Office of Geriatric and Extended Care, or successor office, shall establish quantitative goals to address the specialty care needs of veterans through in-home care, including by ensuring the education of home health aides and caregivers of veterans in the following areas:
(A)
Dementia care.
(B)
Care for spinal cord injuries and diseases.
(C)
Ventilator care.
(D)
Other speciality care areas as determined by the Secretary.
(5)

Report to Congress
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing the findings of the review under paragraph (1), the results of the assessment under paragraph (2), and the goals established under paragraphs (3) and (4).
(b)

Review of incentives and efforts relating to home and community based services
(1)

Review
The Secretary shall conduct a review of the following:
(A)
The financial and organizational incentives for the directors of medical centers of the Department to establish or expand covered programs at such medical centers.
(B)
Any incentives for such directors to provide to veterans home and community based services in lieu of institutional care.
(C)
The efforts taken by the Secretary to enhance spending of the Department for extended care by shifting the balance of such spending from institutional care to home and community based services.
(D)
The plan of the Under Secretary for Health of the Department to accelerate efforts to enhance spending as specified in subparagraph (C), to match the progress of similar efforts taken by the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services with respect to spending of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for extended care.
(2)

Report to Congress
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the review under paragraph (1).
(c)

Review of respite care services
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a review of the use, availability, and effectiveness of the respite care services furnished by the Secretary under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code.
(d)

Collaboration To improve home and community based services
(1)

Feedback and recommendations on caregiver support
(A)

Feedback and recommendations
The Secretary shall solicit from the entities described in subparagraph (B) feedback and recommendations regarding opportunities for the Secretary to enhance home and community based services for veterans and caregivers of veterans, including through the potential provision by the entity of care and respite services to veterans and caregivers who may not be eligible for any program under section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, or section 1720K of such title (as added by section 5(a)(1)), but have a need for assistance.
(B)

Covered entities
The entities described in this subparagraph are veterans service organizations and nonprofit organizations with a focus on caregiver support (as determined by the Secretary).
(2)

Collaboration for Native American veterans
The Secretary shall collaborate with the Director of the Indian Health Service and representatives from tribal health programs and Urban Indian organizations to ensure the availability of home and community based services for Native American veterans, including Native American veterans receiving health care and medical services under multiple health care systems.