Congressional hearings have been held and the House of Representatives passed H.R. 542, the Elizabeth Dole Home and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act, also known as the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, in December 2023. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved a similar bill, S. 141, in February 2023. In April 2023, President Biden also signed an Executive Order to push the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve access to home-based care for veterans, speeding up the expansion of its Veteran Directed Care program to all 172 Medical Centers by the end of FY 2024. The President’s Executive Order requires the VA to consider expanding access to the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, also known as the Caregivers Program, and provide more mental health support for caregivers enrolled in that program.

Now it is time for the Senate to enact this important bipartisan legislation, H.R. 542.

The bill modifies the reimbursement for and the provision of noninstitutional alternatives to nursing home care for veterans. The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to collaborate on specific programs, expand home and community-based services, support caregivers of disabled veterans, pilot homemaker services in underserved areas, and ensure Native American veterans have access to services. This legislation also would ensure that the Veterans Health Administration has consistent and accessible geriatric and extended care programs through reviews and by eliminating service gaps. This must be a priority!