Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer of veterans to non-Department medical foster homes for certain veterans who are unable to live independently. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act 2. Secretary of Veterans Affairs contract authority for placement of veterans in non-Department medical foster homes (a) Authority (1) In general Section 1720 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (h) (1) During the three-year period beginning on October 1, 2015, and subject to paragraph (2), at the request of a veteran for whom the Secretary is required to provide nursing home care under section 1710A of this title, the Secretary may place the veteran in a medical foster home that meets Department standards, at the expense of the United States, pursuant to a contract or agreement entered into between the Secretary and the medical foster home for such purpose. A veteran who is placed in a medical foster home under this subsection shall agree, as a condition of such placement, to accept home health services furnished by the Secretary under section 1717 of this title. (2) Not more than 900 veterans placed in a medical foster home, whether placed before or after the enactment of the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act (3) In this subsection, the term medical foster home . (2) Effective date Subsection (h) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 2015. (b) Limitations on awards and bonuses Section 705 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–146 38 U.S.C. 703 705. Limitation on awards and bonuses paid to employees of Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses paid by the Secretary in a fiscal year under chapter 45 or 53 of title 5, United States Code, or any other awards or bonuses authorized under such title or title 38, United States Code, does not exceed the following amounts: (1) With respect to each of fiscal years 2015 through 2018, $300,000,000. (2) With respect to each of fiscal years 2019 through 2024, $360,000,000. . Amend the title so as to read: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts and agreements for the placement of veterans in non-Department medical foster homes for certain veterans who are unable to live independently. March 2, 2015 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act (Sec. 2) Authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during the three-year period beginning on October 1, 2015, at the request of a veteran for whom the VA is required to provide nursing home care, to place such veteran in a medical foster home that meets VA standards. Requires such veteran to agree, as a condition of such placement, to accept VA home health services. Limits the number of veterans placed in a medical foster home that may have their care covered at the expense of the United States to 900. Amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to reduce the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses that may be paid by the VA in each of FY2015-FY2018 to $300 million.