Bill Overview
Title: Expanding Veterans’ Options for Long Term Care Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program to assess the effectiveness of providing assisted living services to eligible veterans, including by assessing the satisfaction of veterans participating in the pilot program. Eligible veterans are those who (1) are eligible for assisted living services as determined by the VA; and (2) are already receiving nursing home level care paid for by the VA, are eligible for such care from the VA, or exceed the requirements for domiciliary care paid for by the VA but do not meet the requirements for nursing home level care paid for by the VA. The Inspector General of the VA must report to Congress on the pilot program, and the VA must submit a follow-up plan to address any deficiencies that are identified in the report.
Sponsors: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8]
Target Audience
Population: US Veterans eligible for assisted living services
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The bill specifically targets veterans who are eligible for assisted living services.
- Eligibility also includes veterans who are currently receiving or eligible for nursing home level care paid by the VA.
- Those who exceed requirements for domiciliary care by the VA but do not meet nursing home care requirements are also included.
- The bill implements a pilot program targeting a specific group of veterans initially, so the global impact is confined to US veterans.
- Worldwide, many countries have veterans but this bill only impacts US veterans as it's regulated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Reasoning
- The selected individuals for interviews include veterans who are directly impacted by the policy, given that the policy is targeted specifically at US veterans eligible for assisted living services.
- A range of perspectives from different demographics have been covered to see varied effects, including individuals from different ages and occupations within the veteran community.
- Given that the policy has a financial limit, the impact may not be uniformly felt across all eligible veterans due to resource distribution impacting some more significantly than others.
- It's important to note that while the policy aims to improve wellbeing among the elderly veteran population, societal variables such as personal resilience, family support, and community engagement also influence wellbeing.
- Estimations account for the number of veterans needing assistance and how resources might be allocated within the pilot's budget limits.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Veteran (San Diego, CA)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy will allow veterans like me more freedom and personalized care.
- Having a choice between assisted living and nursing care would be quite beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Retired Army Nurse (Austin, TX)
Age: 80 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I would appreciate the possibility of enhanced care services without the full commitment of a nursing home.
- It's a safety net and an opportunity for better care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Part-time Security at local VA (Detroit, MI)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen many fellow vets struggling with getting adequate care as they age.
- This policy might help those of us slipping through the cracks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could finally ease the burden on my family as my needs increase.
- A pilot program might delay being put in a stricter care facility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Volunteer, VA Hospital (Denver, CO)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy would benefit caregivers like me who are seeking alternative care solutions for their spouses.
- Assisted living could help maintain independence within our means.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
VA benefit advisor (Houston, TX)
Age: 64 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Professionally, I believe this will add a much-needed service to our benefits.
- It fills a gap in care that many veterans deserve.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Retired (Charlotte, NC)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having access to a combination of domiciliary and assisted care is reassuring.
- I prefer something less invasive than a nursing home.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Retired Air Force Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 78 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'd love more options than being forced into a nursing home as my only option.
- Flexibility in care settings will improve my situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Retired Postal Worker (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 81 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Currently, waiting lists mean delayed care, so this policy could help.
- It might bring quicker access to care for many in my position.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
Retired Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 69 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though I'm not immediately affected, I know many who could benefit.
- It addresses a need among older veterans for varied care options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 2: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 3: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring that the pilot program is thoroughly evaluated for effectiveness is critical for potential expansion.
- Veterans' satisfaction and health outcomes must be considered to determine the program's success.
- Funding allocation and timely administration by the VA will be essential for the pilot’s success.