Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act

Became Public Law No: 118-210.

Jan 2, 2025

Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act This act addresses various programs, benefits, and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including those related to health care, educational assistance, home loans, homelessness, and disability and memorial affairs. TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS Subtitle A--Veterans Community Care Program Matters (Sec. 101) This section requires that for a two-year period the VA must provide care under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) when the veteran and the referring clinician determine it is in the best medical interest of the veteran. The veteran and the clinician may correct any errors made with respect to a determination of eligibility for VCCP care. (Sec. 102) This section requires the VA to conduct outreach to inform veterans about care and services available under the VCCP. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report to Congress on the efforts of the VA to ensure that veterans are informed about eligibility for VCCP care and services. (Sec. 103) This section requires the VA to annually review and report to Congress on waivers of payment rates for Third Party Administrators (i.e., entities that manage provider networks and perform administrative services related to such networks) to identify whether the waivers help alleviate community-specific challenges. (Sec. 104) This section requires the VA to periodically update standards of quality of care utilizing the most up-to-date practices and all relevant data. (Sec. 105) This section requires the VA to implement a pilot program to seek to develop and implement a plan for the improvement of the administration of care under the VCCP. (Sec. 106) This section requires the VA to implement a pilot program to hire (1) general dentists at VA medical facilities to manage approval of treatment plans requested by dental providers in providing care under the VCCP, and (2) dental specialists at Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) to manage approval of treatment plans for specialty dental care requested by dental providers in providing dental care under the VCCP. (Sec. 107) This section requires the VA to (1) establish a working group on value-based care, and (2) submit a strategic plan developed by the group to Congress. Following the submission of the plan, the VA must commence a three-year pilot program to implement the plan relating to the delivery, by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), of primary care, inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment, inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment, spinal cord injury disorder care, and polytrauma care. (Sec. 108) This section requires the VA to create and implement a plan to adopt national health information interoperability standards for the VA and VCCP providers with respect to the coordination of care and benefits, patient identity matching, measurement and reporting of quality, population health, and public health. Additionally, the VA must submit to Congress a plan to provide a capability to facilitate the electronic direct exchange of veterans’ health records and related documents to VCCP providers at no cost. (Sec. 109) This section requires the VA to report on efforts to incorporate value-based reimbursement models under the VCCP and related recommendations for legislative or administrative action. (Sec. 110) The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the VA must periodically assess the VA’s performance in (1) appropriately identifying veterans eligible for care and services under the VCCP, (2) informing veterans of their eligibility for such care and services, and (3) delivering such care and services in a timely manner. The OIG must brief Congress on such assessments. (Sec. 111) The GAO must report to Congress on the dental care furnished by the VA under the VCCP, including the impact of reimbursement rates and dental provider satisfaction. Subtitle B--Matters Relating to Nursing Home and Oth