Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, issued the following statement on the introduction of the Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017:
“Our Utah veterans deserve our utmost care and respect. This legislation will give veterans the opportunity to live and spend more time at home with their families while still receiving daily medical care and attention. If signed into law, it would allow state veterans homes—such as those in Ivins, Ogden, Payson, and Salt Lake City—to enter into agreements with the VA to provide adult day health care. I hope the Senate will act quickly to approve this criticial measure.”
Statements of Support
Kim Wixon, Director of George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home:
S. 324 ‘‘State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017’’ sponsored by Senator Hatch will assist the State’s Veterans Homes in providing Adult Day Health Care to the most fragile and deserving of our veterans—those with 70 percent or higher service-connected disabilities. The bill will provide these services to the service-connected veterans at no cost. We thank Senator Hatch for sponsoring this very important and beneficial veterans bill.
Fred Sganga, Legislative Officer, National Association of State Veterans Homes (NSAVH):
The National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH) strongly supports Senator Hatch’s legislation, S. 324, the State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017. NASVH and the veterans we serve are fortunate to have such a caring and dedicated advocate in Senator Orrin Hatch.
Senator Hatch’s legislation would allow our most disabled veterans to receive the comprehensive medical services available at a State Veterans Home while returning to comfort of their own home. His bill would also provide tremendous relief to family members, who in most cases are the primary caregivers to these severely disabled veterans. NASVH is grateful to Senator Hatch for his continued leadership on behalf of America’s heroes.
Background
- Currently, there are 609 Utah veterans on waiting lists for state home care (24-hour care). The average wait time is 15 months
- S. 324 would allow qualifying veterans, 70 percent or more service connected disabled to receive adult-day medical model care.
- This bill would allow qualifying veterans who would normally live at a veteran’s home full-time, to be able to receive medical model care up to 8 hours a day, and return to live at home with their families.
- Benefits:
- Allows veterans to receive the same care as living in a home, while allowing them to live at home and stay connected with their families
- Provides respite for veterans families while veterans are at daily care for up to 8 hours a day
- Supported by NASVH, DAV, VFW, American Legion, AMVETS, NASDVA
