All four members of Maine’s Congressional delegation have reached out to the federal government for an update regarding a proposed rule allowing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to reimburse Maine Veterans’ Homes (MVH) for care provided to veterans with dementia.
Sen. Susan Collins (R), Sen. Angus King (I), Rep. Jared Golden (D), and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) have written to VA Secretary Denis McDonough asking for an update on the Department’s progress toward finalizing this rule, according to a Thursday press release.
In 2020, Congress passed a law authorizing the Department to reimburse state veterans’ homes for the costs associated with providing care to veterans with early stage dementia.
The Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act was signed into law on January 5, 2021 and implemented “various updates to policies and programs for veterans,” including a provision resuming reimbursement payments to facilities like MVH for domiciliary care.
In this context, domiciliary care refers to “a type of assisted living that is provided to older veterans who are independently mobile or semi-mobile but are incapable of living alone.”
In September of 2023, the VA announced a proposed rule that would expand eligibility for domiciliary care reimbursements and retroactively reimburse state homes for expenses associated with this care dating back to January 2021.
According to the delegation, the lack of federal funding for this domiciliary care has cost MVH — and in some cases, veterans and their families — an aggregate of approximately $130,000 per month, totaling more than $3 million since 2019.
It is estimated that this will rise to roughly $3.9 million by the end of the fiscal year if the VA does not finalize the proposed rule change.
This type of care had previously been reimbursed by the VA until 2019 when the Department “abruptly ended payments,” according to the delegation.
Click Here to Read the Delegation’s Full Press Release
“We write to request an update on the finalization of the proposed rule 88 FR 60417 for eligible veterans to receive per diem domiciliary care payments at state veterans’ homes,” the letter said. “There is no finalized rule three years after the law was passed and six months since the proposed rule was announced.”
“This delay continues to cause financial harm to our veterans, their families, and Maine Veterans’ Homes (MVH), who have continued to serve deserving veterans while waiting
for the proper implementation of this law,” the delegation wrote. “We urge the quick finalization of this rule without further delay.”
“There are currently 118 veteran residents requiring domiciliary care at Maine Veterans’ Home. For the 92 veterans not grandfathered in before 2020, they, their families, or Maine Veterans’ Home must pay out of pocket for their needed care, which can easily be over $1,500 a month,” the letter said. “This intolerable cost needlessly burdens veterans and Maine Veterans’ Homes.”
Click Here to Read the Delegation’s Full Letter
In May of last year, Maine’s delegation introduced the Reimburse Veterans for Domiciliary Care Act in an effort to force the VA to begin these payments as required by the 2021 law.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Golden in the House and Sen. King in the Senate, and both Rep. Pingree and Sen. Collins were identified “co-leads” for the legislation.
“For decades, Maine Veterans’ Home has provided world-class care to our state’s veterans. They’ve worked hard to meet America’s commitment to those who served despite rising costs and a lack of financial support from the Department of Veterans Affairs,” the delegation wrote at the time. “The Reimburse Veterans for Domiciliary Care Act requires the VA to fulfill its promises and help ensure older Maine veterans struggling with dementia can continue receiving the care they need.”
“We hope Congress will swiftly pass our bipartisan, bicameral legislation to end the unfair reimbursement delays and meet our nation’s solemn promise to the brave men and women who answered the call of service,” the four lawmakers said.
After being introduced, both the House and Senate versions of The Reimburse Veterans for Domiciliary Care Act remained stagnate in committee.
