Miller-Meeks Reintroduces VA Bill Increasing Veterans Access to High-Cost Medication
Washington, D.C. — Today, Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) reintroduced the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act, legislation that increases access to costly medications out of reach for severely disabled veterans in State Veterans Homes. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not pay State Veterans Homes for high-cost medications for severely disabled veterans, which are covered outside the facility.
"As a 24-year veteran and physician, it is critical to increase access to life-saving medication for our veterans," said Rep. Miller-Meeks. "Our bill would mandate the VA reimburse State Veterans Homes for the cost of expensive, previously prescribed medications – or furnish them - so veterans can continue to receive the care they need and deserve."
“We have a solemn obligation to ensure the needs of our veterans are met at every corner,” said Rep. Pappas. “This bipartisan legislation will close a VA medication reimbursement gap to ensure that State Veterans Homes are fully equipped to meet the needs of all our veterans, including those at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton. I’ll continue working to ensure New Hampshire veterans are provided the care and services they are owed.”
Since the passage of the PACT act, there has been a significant increase in the number of veterans adjudicated as being severely disabled. For these veterans, VA pays a per diem but doesn’t pay the State Veterans Homes for the cost of extremely high-cost medications which often cost the homes more than VA is paying (sometimes more than $1000 a day). These high-cost medications are often revolutionary cancer drugs that help significantly lengthen the lives and quality of life of our nation’s most deserving.
Background:
The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act would fix this problem. When a severely disabled veteran requires high-cost medications, the bill would require VA to either pay for the medications or furnish them directly to the State Veterans Homes. The bill would encourage States Veterans Homes to grow and provide care to our most severely disabled veterans.
Rep. Miller-Meeks has used her position as Chairwoman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health to hold hearings and spotlight critical issues such as substance use disorder, care coordination, and emerging mental health therapies, among many others. She has also sponsored pivotal legislation that would improve access to residential rehabilitation treatment programs, expand long-term care options, and increase the availability of non-opioid pain management medications.
State Veterans Homes give states the opportunity to provide housing and medical care to our nation’s veterans while relieving pressure from an often-overwhelmed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system. To help support these facilities, Congress has authorized programs that repay states for some of the care provided.
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