Veterans Administration: VA Pensions to Medicaid Nursing Home Residents Should Be Reduced
HRD-87-111
Published: Jul 10, 1987. Publicly Released: Aug 11, 1987.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
GAO reviewed how Veterans Administration (VA) and Medicaid benefits interact to determine: (1) how many medical nursing home residents are receiving VA pensions; (2) how states apply these pensions toward the cost of care; (3) the effect of VA pensions on state and federal costs; and (4) how other needs-based programs adjust benefits for institutionalized recipients.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should amend title 38 to require that the VA pension for veterans and their survivors who enter a nursing home under Medicaid be reduced. One way would be to amend title 38 to extend the VA pension reduction criteria that currently apply when the recipient is institutionalized in a VA-supported facility to cover recipients supported by Medicaid. Alternately, the reduction could be tailored to the personal needs allowance established by each state Medicaid agency. |
Closed – Implemented
|
Committee staff supports this recommendation and will consider action during the cycle if the budget deficit worsens. Congress enacted the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508) which reduced VA pensions to $90 a month for veterans without dependents who receive Medicaid-supported nursing home care. |
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Eligibility criteriaFinancial managementHealth care cost controlNursing homesOffsets (accounting)Veterans pensionsMedicaidPensionsVeteransSupplemental security income