WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), both members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), have introduced bipartisan legislation to streamline redundant inspection requirements for State Veterans Homes (SVHs) nationwide. Under current law, all SVHs must undergo an annual inspection survey by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides a comprehensive assessment of safety protocols, facility condition, clinical care practices and other standards required for certification.

However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also conduct a nearly identical annual inspection of SVHs serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries-resulting in a roughly 75 percent overlap in the number of SVHs that face an audit from both agencies. The State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act would allow SVHs to forgo the CMS survey if they have met all the requirements of the annual VA survey.

"Maine Veterans Homes and state veterans' homes across the country are a lifeline to the brave men and women who served," said Senator King. "However, redundant inspections hamper their ability to deliver critical services and support. The State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act is commonsense legislation that will ensure we continue to provide the highest quality of care to our veterans while streamlining administrative processes. Keeping our promise to veterans everywhere - from Maine to Idaho - should never be partisan and I'm grateful to partner with Senator Crapo on this issue."

"Overlapping survey requirements take time and resources away from the core mission of State Veterans Homes - providing care to our nation's heroes," said Crapo. "We must remove unnecessary administrative burdens and allow for a more streamlined certification process, all without compromising the quality of care veterans deserve."

The CMS survey has been found to be 90 percent identical to the clinical life and safety sections of the VA inspection survey. The VA survey is considered more comprehensive as it accounts for domiciliary care and adult day health care, whereas the CMS survey does not.

Key Provisions of the State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act:

• Eliminate duplication: Reduce unnecessary, overlapping annual survey requirements by the VA and CMS.
• Resource Efficiency: Free up SVH staff time and resources to focus more on veteran well-being and care.
• Cost Savings: Cut redundant inspection expenses for taxpayers.
• Maintain Quality: Enable CMS to rely on robust, comprehensive VA inspection report findings.
• Streamline Reporting: Use VA inspection reports for the CMS Compare website to support informed consumer decision-making.

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America's servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. This fall, President Trump also signed his bipartisan Improving Veteran Experience Act into law.

Senator King has introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his "outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans."

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