Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Washington, DC.
February 18, 2010

The Honorable Michael Michaud
United States House of Representatives
1724 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Michaud,

On behalf of the 2.1 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and our Auxiliaries, I would like to thank you for the invitation to testify on legislation H.R. 4241, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes.  The VFW supports H.R. 4241, to correct the inadequate financing of long-term care for the most disabled veterans in State Veterans Homes.

This bill seeks to correct the inadequate funding for the long-term care in a SVH for veterans rated at 70 percent or above for service connected disabilities.  With the passage of PL 109-461, SVH’s were afforded a higher per diem rate of reimbursement from the Department of Veterans Affairs.  VA’s regulations, issued April 29, 2009, indicate all medication and specific outpatient medical care for service-connected injuries to be provided by SVH’s.  Further, it bars SVH’s from billing to Medicare and Medicaid for any and all additional costs that exceed the per diem rate.  The current law and VA regulations create a disincentive for SVH’s across the nation to care for the most severely disabled veterans.  Several states indicate the potential loss of millions of dollars complying with VA regulations; others have limited or stopped accepting these veterans into their homes. 

Your legislation grants the VA Secretary the authority to enter into a state-by-state per diem arrangement with SVH’s.  Each state’s rate would be comparable to the geographic area and the reimbursement rate available to a ‘non-department nursing home’ or a private nursing home facility.  Thus, correcting the existing health care funding shortfall for America’s most disabled veterans.  

The VFW is pleased to support your legislation for America’s veterans.

Sincerely,

Robert E. Wallace
Executive Director