Ranking Member Moran Applauds Senate Passage of Comprehensive Veterans Legislative Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) - ranking member and incoming chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee - today released the following statement, after the U.S. Senate passed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act:

"It is fitting that this important legislation is named after an honorary Kansan, Senator Elizabeth Dole, who is a lifelong advocate for veterans and their caregivers. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act will better support veterans, caregivers and survivors by improving access to VA health care and benefits, expanding long-term care programs, strengthening programs for student veterans and military family members and more.

"I appreciate the veterans, caregivers, survivors, veterans service organizations and advocates who shared their experiences with me and contributed important ideas and feedback specifically to increase mental health support for caregivers and protect the rights of veterans and their doctors to determine what is in a veteran's best medical interest without interference from VA bureaucrats.

"While I look forward to the enactment of this bill and the good it will do for veterans and their loved ones, I am disappointed that it does not address access to care for veterans in need of residential care to help them overcome mental health or substance use issues. As chairman, I will prioritize making certain these veterans receive the support they need to succeed."

Sen. Moran Legislative Priorities Included in Package:

• S. 1315 - Veterans' Health Empowerment, Access, Leadership, and Transparency for our Heroes (HEALTH) Act of 2023
  • Improves care and expands outreach & scheduling for veterans seeking care in the community.
  • Prohibits VA overriding an agreement between a veteran and their provider regarding their best medical interest.
  • Requires VA to develop a strategic plan to implement value-based care that would include an identification of a veteran's current health care state.
  • Improves value-based reimbursement models under veterans community care program.
  • Requires VA to develop a system to determine veteran preference for scheduling health care appointments and related services.
  • Requires VA to implement a staffing model to make certain there is timely access to care while effectively overseeing that care.
• S.141 - Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023
  • Increases the coverage total cost of nursing home care for veterans seeking non-institutional alternatives to that care from 65% to 100%.
  • Requires VA to coordinate with a variety of different programs to allow eligible veterans to receive in-home care services and coordinate with assistance and support services for caregivers.
  • Improves Home Health Aides programs for communities facing shortages for home health aides.
  • Requires VA to review programs related to caregiving and long-term care to create more effective management, eliminate gaps in care and ensure access to home and community-care based services.
• S. 1266 - Love Lives on Act
  • Allows surviving spouses to maintain eligibility for education benefits under the Fry Scholarship and Dependents Education Assistance upon remarriage.
• S. 216 - RESPECT Act of 2023
  • Authorizes VA to award contracts or grants to entities to improve provision of mental health support to family caregivers.
  • Requires Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress the status of programs regarding veteran and caregiver mental health support.
• S. 495 - Expanding Veterans' Options for Long Term Care Act
  • Creates a pilot program for VA to furnish assisted living services for certain veterans in rural America.
• S. 3466 - VA Medical Center Security Report Act of 2023
  • Directs VA to conduct an annual survey and issue reports to Congress, for five years, of VA staff on security challenges at VA facilities under VA police jurisdiction.

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