WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia is praising the Senate’s unanimous passage of a bipartisan bill aimed at improving health care access for veterans. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which Kaine cosponsored, seeks to reduce wait times for care, expand access to home-based services, and increase pay for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care workers.
“We have a responsibility to care for our nation’s veterans and ensure they can access high-quality health care,” Kaine said. “I’m glad the Senate unanimously passed this bipartisan legislation I cosponsored to allow veterans to more quickly access care, stay in their homes as they age, and provide much-needed support to VA health care workers. I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this bill as quickly as possible.”
The legislation is named for former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a longtime advocate for veterans and their caregivers. Among its key provisions, the bill would:
- Require the VA to coordinate with local Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to expand home and community-based services for veterans.
- Develop a plan for timely appointment scheduling at VA medical facilities, including same-day appointments.
- Raise pay for VA health care workers, including retroactive pay for employees who exceeded annual pay caps between 2006 and 2017.
- Provide additional funding for short-term housing programs for unhoused veterans and allow the VA to offer necessities such as bedding, food, and rides to medical appointments.
- Expand access to alternatives to nursing home care, such as adult day care and assisted living, with the VA covering 100% of costs instead of the current 65%.
- Create a centralized website to help veterans and caregivers determine their eligibility for home-based services.
- Launch a pilot program to provide home health aides for veterans in underserved areas.
- Improve transitions of care for veterans and their caregivers who no longer qualify for certain VA programs.
The legislation also directs the VA to review staffing, resources, and accessibility to ensure it is meeting the needs of veterans and their families.
Kaine said the bill will particularly benefit veterans in Virginia, including those in rural areas, by expanding access to services in their communities.
The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
