Bill Overview
Title: VA Caregiver Continuity Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct outreach to veterans or their family caregivers who participate in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and may be subject to discharge, reassessment, or a reduction of benefits under the program. The VA must provide such individuals with information regarding continued eligibility for the program.
Sponsors: Rep. Kim, Andy [D-NJ-3]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans and their family caregivers in the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Estimated Size: 60000
- The VA Caregiver Continuity Act specifically targets veterans and their family caregivers who are part of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
- This program is designed to support veterans with significant injuries or disabilities incurred in the line of duty and their family caregivers who provide them with assistance.
- The law provides protection against abrupt changes in benefits for these individuals, indicating the target population is those currently receiving benefits under the program or facing potential changes.
- According to the VA, there are thousands of veterans enrolled in the caregiver program nationwide.
- The focus on communication and continuity of care impacts both veterans as well as their caregivers, involving multiple family members per veteran.
Reasoning
- The VA Caregiver Continuity Act provides a structured means to ensure that veterans who rely on caregiver support don't unexpectedly lose benefits due to programmatic changes.
- The policy is likely to affect family caregivers by providing stability and assurance about the continuity of their roles and accompanying benefits.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy aims to primarily maintain current levels of support, rather than expanding services drastically. It will ensure that the $12 million in the first year is efficiently used for outreach and communication costs.
- The predicted reach is slightly limited in the early years due to budgetary constraints but improves over time given the cumulative $104.5 million over 10 years.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Veteran (Texas)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been part of this program for a while and any changes worry me.
- This act should help in making sure I'm informed about any changes.
- Continuation of benefits is crucial for my health and wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Caregiver (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've dedicated my time to care for my husband.
- Worried about losing the stipend which helps pay the bills.
- This policy gives me hope for better clarity and stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Widower (Florida)
Age: 78 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm getting old and changes to these programs worry me.
- With this policy, I might receive more consistent support and communication.
- It's reassuring to know the VA is mandated to help us understand these changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
Engineer (New York)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Medical bills are a burden; any reduction in caregiver support could be damaging.
- This policy is a good step towards ensuring we're not left in the lurch.
- Information is vital; so I welcome more outreach from the VA.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Nurse (Ohio)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Balancing work and caregiving is challenging.
- The act could put my mind at ease about the stability of our support.
- It's good to know communication will be improved.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Retired Teacher (Illinois)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The reassignment process had me worried about losing benefits.
- This new policy is a step toward ensuring stability for folks like me.
- Hope it means less disruption and more direct communication.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
VA Social Worker (Virginia)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see many families anxious about potential benefit losses.
- This policy should reduce their stress and improve the stability of caregiving arrangements.
- It's a practical step that aligns with the needs I've observed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Farmer (Pennsylvania)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The consistency of caregiver support is crucial for my mobility.
- This policy could mean fewer disruptions in my assistance.
- Keeping us informed is key, and I'm glad for this attention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Painter (Nevada)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sharing care duties for my brother means constant adjustments.
- The policy could provide greater predictability in our support system.
- It's a positive move that recognizes the importance of caregiver roles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Construction Worker (Michigan)
Age: 69 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Living with injury, it's tiring to deal with the risk of losing support.
- The policy's communication components are crucial to understanding our rights.
- Continuity here is everything. Hoping it helps stabilize available assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 1 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 2: $11000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $13000000)
Year 3: $11000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $13000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Key Considerations
- The VA's ability to implement effective outreach and maintain contact with caregivers is critical to the success of the program.
- Fluctuations in the number of veterans and caregivers over time could affect program costs and savings.
- The program's effectiveness in maintaining or improving veteran health outcomes through better-managed home care situations.
- Potential administrative challenges in accurately assessing continued eligibility and effectively managing communications.