No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states findings that many veterans and surviving spouses eligible for pension benefits and aid and attendance allowances under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, are unaware of such benefits or face barriers in determining eligibility and submitting complete claims. It further finds that partnerships between the Department of Veterans Affairs and qualified pension assistance organizations may improve access to benefits, reduce administrative burdens, and decrease reliance on Medicaid-funded long-term care services.
This section establishes a pilot program under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs contracts with qualified pension assistance organizations to provide claims development support for non-service-connected pension benefits under chapter 15 of title 38, including aid and attendance, and survivor pensions with aid and attendance. The program operates in one or more Veterans Integrated Services Networks, provides nine specified claimant-support services, requires safeguards against fraud and conflicts of interest, gives preference to organizations with at least five years of nationwide experience and 10,000 documented approvals, and terminates on December 31, 2031.
This section establishes a performance measurement framework to evaluate the pilot program’s effects on claimant outcomes, administrative efficiency, and access to long-term care services for veterans and surviving spouses applying for non-service-connected pension benefits, including aid and attendance. It requires collection and evaluation of 13 specified performance measures, comparative analysis against similar non-pilot claims on seven criteria, a preliminary report to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees 30 days after the 18-month mark following commencement, and a final report 180 days after completion containing all data, assessments of improvements, Medicaid expenditure reductions, and recommendations on expansion, continuation, modification, or termination.