Providing Veterans Essential Medications

Summary#

This bill, called the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act, changes a part of title 38 of the U.S. Code. It directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to either reimburse or furnish certain high-cost drugs to qualifying State homes when those homes give the drugs to veterans receiving nursing home care. The bill adds a definition of "costly medication" based on the drug's average wholesale price for one month's supply plus a 3% transaction fee compared to 8.5% of the monthly payment the State home receives under the existing rule. It also defines "covered State home" as a State home that provides such a costly medication to a veteran while giving nursing home care under the cited contract or agreement.

What it means for you#

• If you are a veteran in a State-run nursing home covered under the cited contract or agreement, this bill would allow that State home to be reimbursed by, or receive the costly medication directly from, the Department of Veterans Affairs when the drug meets the bill's price test.
• If you run or work at a covered State home, the home can choose either to get reimbursed for the drug cost or to have the VA furnish the drug when the drug meets the bill's definition of costly medication.

Expenses#

The bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse covered State homes for certain costly medications or to furnish those medications directly. No publicly available information on overall budget estimates or federal cost is included in the bill text provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.