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 1720I. 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: 1720I. State licensed or certified residential care facilities. . (c) Applicability Section 1720I of title 38, United States Code, 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), at the request of an eligible veteran for whom the VA is required to provide domiciliary, nursing home, adult day health, or hospital care, or who is determined to be in need of such care, to place the veteran (at the expense of the United States) in a state licensed or certified residential care facility that meets VA standards if the cost of providing such care through the facility is less than the cost of providing the care through any other available option. An eligible veteran is a veteran who is eligible for hospital care or medical services based on: (1) specified service-related disabilities, (2) who is a former prisoner of war, who was awarded the medal of honor or who was awarded the Purple Heart; (3) who is a veteran of the Mexican border period or of World War I; (4) who was exposed to a toxic substance, radiation, or other conditions; or (5) who is unable to defray the expenses of necessary care.