H.R. 542 — what changed
Elizabeth Dole Home- and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act of 2023
From Reported in House to Engrossed in House. 2 sections amended between Reported in House and Engrossed in House.
Sec. 5 Coordination with assistance and support services for caregivers
Coordination with Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers—
Coordination— Section 1720G(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(14)
“(A) In the case of a veteran or caregiver who seeks services under this subsection and is denied such services, or a veteran or the family caregiver of a veteran who is discharged from the program under this subsection, the Secretary shall—
“(i) if the veteran meets the requirements of a covered veteran under subsection (b), provide to such caregiver the option of enrolling in the program of general caregiver support services under such subsection;
“(ii) assess the veteran or caregiver for participation in any other available program of the Department for home- and community-based services (including the programs specified in section 1720K of this title) for which the veteran or caregiver may be eligible and, with respect to the veteran, store (and make accessible to the veteran) the results of such assessment in the electronic medical record of the veteran; and
“(iii) provide to the veteran or caregiver written information on any such program identified pursuant to the assessment under clause (ii), including information about facilities, eligibility requirements, and relevant contact information for each such program.
“(B) For each veteran or family caregiver who is discharged from the program under this subsection, a caregiver support coordinator shall provide for a smooth and personalized transition from such program to an appropriate program of the Department for home- and community-based services (including the programs specified in section 1720K of this title), including by integrating caregiver support across programs.”
Applicability— The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to denials and discharges occurring on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Technical and conforming amendments— Section 1720G(d) of such title is amended—
by striking “or a covered veteran” each place it appears and inserting “, a veteran denied or discharged as specified in paragraph (14) of such subsection, or a covered veteran”; and
by striking “under subsection (a), means” each place it appears and inserting “under subsection (a) or a veteran denied or discharged as specified in paragraph (14) of such subsection, means”.
Conformity of respite care across programs— Section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a)(3), is further amended—
in subsection (a)(3)—
by amending subparagraph (A)(ii)(III) to read as follows:
“(III) covered respite care of not less than 30 days annually;”
changed
by striking subparagraph (B) and redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and through (C), respectively; and
by amending subsection (b)(3)(A)(iii) to read as follows:
“(iii) Covered respite care of not less than 30 days annually.”
in subsection (d)—
by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph:
“(2) The term covered respite care means, with respect to a caregiver of a veteran, respite care under section 1720B of this title that—
“(A) is medically and age appropriate for the veteran (including 24-hour per day care of the veteran commensurate with the care provided by the caregiver); and
“(B) includes in-home care.”
Review relating to caregiver contact— The Secretary shall conduct a review of the capacity of the Department to establish a streamlined system for contacting all caregivers enrolled in the program of general caregiver support services under section 1720G(b) of title 38, United States Code, to provide to such caregivers program updates and alerts relating to emerging services for which such caregivers may be eligible.
Sec. 9 Modification of certain housing loan fees
changed
The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “November 14, 15, 2031” each place it appears and inserting “January 26, “February 4, 2032”.