Chairman Michaud, Ranking Member Brown, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to submit for the record AMVETS’ views regarding the “Increased Flexibility in Payments for State Veterans Homes,” H.R. 4241.

In 2006, Congress approved payment of differing per diem rates to State Veterans Homes that provide nursing home care for service-connected veterans through the “Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Act of 2006.” The intent of the act was to pay higher per diem rates, however, once enacted the payments to many of the State Veterans Homes did not cover the cost to care for these veterans. Without immediate intervention, the current rate could threaten the ability of many State Veterans Homes function financially.

Without implementing H.R. 4241, inadequate funding will continue to cause states to not take additional veterans into their facilities because of funding shortages as well as provide only 70 percent of the funding needed to care for the veterans who are already in these homes.

Our veterans have earned and deserve only the highest quality of care, and under the current regulation they do not. AMVETS wholly supports H.R. 4241 and its effort to fix the unintended funding shortage to so many State Veterans Homes.  

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony and I will be happy to answer any questions you might have.