Veterans Residential Care Choice Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish, at the request of an eligible veteran, nursing home care and hospital care at State licensed or certified residential care facilities. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Residential Care Choice Act 2. Department of Veterans Affairs provision of nursing home care and hospital care at State licensed or certified residential care facilities (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 17 1720J. State licensed or certified residential care facilities (a) In general At the request of an eligible veteran for whom the Secretary is required to provide domiciliary, nursing home, adult day health, or hospital care under this chapter, or whom the Secretary determines is in need of such care, the Secretary may place the veteran in a State licensed or certified residential care facility that meets Department standards, at the expense of the United States, pursuant to a contract or agreement entered into between the Secretary and the facility for such purpose, if the cost of providing such care to such veteran through such facility is less than the cost of providing such care to the veteran through any other available option. A veteran who is placed in such a facility under this section shall agree, as a condition of such placement, to accept home health services furnished by the Secretary under section 1717 of this title. (b) Eligibility For purposes of this section, an eligible veteran is a veteran who is eligible for hospital care or medical services under section 1710 of this title. (c) Definition of State licensed or certified residential care facility In this section, the term State licensed or certified residential care facility . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to such subchapter the following new item: 1720J. State licensed or certified residential care facilities. . (c) Applicability Section 1720J of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to any veteran who is eligible under subsection (b) of that section, including such a veteran who, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, resides in a State licensed or certified residential care facility, as such term is defined in subsection (c) of such section.

Summary: Veterans Residential Care Choice Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to place certain veterans in licensed or certified residential care facilities at the request of such veterans. Specifically, the bill concerns veterans to whom the VA is required to provide domiciliary, nursing home, adult day health, or hospital care. Licensed or certified residential care facilities include, but are not limited to, assisted living facilities, basic care facilities, community residences, enriched housing programs, homes for the aged, personal care homes, and shared housing establishments. Under the bill, the VA may enter into a contract or agreement with a licensed or certified residential care facility if the cost of the facility is less than the cost of providing care to such veterans through any other available option.