Sens. Banks, King Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans’ Access to High-Cost Prescription Medication in State Homes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans living in state veterans' homes. TheProviding Veterans Essential Medications Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse state veterans' homes for high-cost medications or provide the drugs directly. Currently, VA only provides a limited per diem rate to cover drug costs, which is often insufficient.

Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): "State veterans' homes should never have to turn away elderly and disabled veterans because lifesaving medications are too expensive. This bipartisan bill will help states cover those costs and expedite care for our nation's heroes."

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine): "Our men and women in uniform didn't hesitate when it came time to answer the call and serve our nation - we shouldn't hesitate to make their retirement from service as comfortable as possible. If the VA covers veterans' medication when they are living at a private nursing home, those cost reimbursements should be the same when veterans choose to enter a facility that specializes in taking care of veterans. This bipartisan Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act is a crucial piece of legislation that will ensure our veterans continue to receive the care they have earned, regardless of where they choose to live."

Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Jake Adams: "Veterans have earned the peace of mind that comes with reliable, affordable access to the medications they depend on. The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act reinforces that commitment by ensuring state veterans' homes have the resources necessary to supply high-cost medications-allowing them to serve more veterans who need specialized care."

Key Provisions of the Providing Veterans Essential Medication Act:

• Requires the VA to reimburse state veterans' homes for prescription medications that cost more than the 8.5% applicable VA per diem rate.
• Allows the VA to provide high-cost medications directly to state veterans' homes as an alternative reimbursement.
• Gives state veterans' homes the same type of support that the VA already provides to many private contract nursing homes.
• Helps prevent elderly and severely disabled veterans from being denied admission or discharged because of the cost of lifesaving medications.

Background:

The VA covers high-cost medications for eligible veterans living in VA community living centers and private contract nursing homes. However, veterans living in state veterans' homes do not receive the same coverage. Instead, they receive a daily per diem from the VA and are expected to use that payment to cover all necessary care, including prescription medications. Some lifesaving medications, including chemotherapy and cutting-edge cancer treatments, can cost as much as $20,000 per month - far exceeding the VA's daily payment. As a result, state veterans' home may struggle to absorb the costs, deny admission to severely disabled veterans, or discharge residents whose medications become too expensive.

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