Summary

Allows State Veterans Homes that are inspected and certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under VA standards — if those standards are approved by the HHS Secretary and periodically reviewed for alignment — to be treated as meeting Medicare and Medicaid participation requirements. The bill requires documentation sharing, public reporting of VA survey results on Nursing Home Care Compare, retention of CMS authority to investigate and enforce, and a GAO report within three years evaluating outcomes and costs.

Key Points

• Permits VA-certified State Veterans Homes to be treated as meeting Medicare and Medicaid survey requirements if VA standards are approved and aligned with CMS expectations.
• Requires VA to submit survey standards and procedures for joint review with CMS at least every two years.
• HHS must incorporate VA inspection findings and quality metrics into Nursing Home Care Compare (or successor) and issue guidance within 180 days.
• CMS retains authority to investigate complaints, conduct targeted surveys, impose remedies, and revoke deemed status for non-alignment.
• VA survey and certification data used for deeming must be publicly reported and meet federal transparency and data quality standards.
• Secretary must notify Congress within 15 days of approving standards, revoking/suspending deeming, or identifying material non-alignment.
• Deeming authority for Medicaid mirrors the Medicare deeming rule; changes take effect 90 days after enactment.
• GAO must evaluate impacts on cost, enforcement, and resident outcomes and report within three years with recommendations.

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