Hoeven, Rounds reintroduce bill to give veterans more long-term care choices close to home

Veterans would have more access to nursing homes and other long-term care services (LTC) in their home communities under legislation reintroduced on Monday by U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

The Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act would enable the VA to forge provider agreements with health care and extended care facilities, and it would allow LTC providers to accept veteran patients without having to navigate complicated federal contracting requirements.

“It’s important that our veterans have access to health care and long-term care services in their home communities, especially when the nearest VA facility is hundreds of miles away,” Hoeven said. “Unnecessary red tape is preventing many local nursing homes in North Dakota from serving veterans. This legislation streamlines the VA agreement process so that providers can offer services to veterans, helping them receive care in their local communities.”

The VA is currently allowed to enter into provider agreements with non-VA providers of LTC in rural areas, but regulations and stringent reporting requirements often prevent LTC providers from doing so. However, LTC providers don’t face the same regulatory burdens when contracting with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

“South Dakota veterans have made incredible sacrifices to keep us safe,” Rounds said. “Our legislation would remove red tape and regulatory hurdles to provide more options to our veterans when seeking care, particularly our rural vets who utilize the Choice Act in greater proportions. I thank Sen. Hoeven for continuing to lead this important effort to improve the quality of care for our vets.”

Under the Veterans Access to Long Term Care Act, provider agreements reached by the VA and CMS would face the same regulations and reporting requirements.