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VA Health Care: Potential for Offsetting Long-Term Care Costs Through Estate Recovery

HRD-93-68 Published: Jul 27, 1993. Publicly Released: Jul 27, 1993.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the potential for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to recoup the costs of providing nursing home and domiciliary care through an estate recovery program, focusing on: (1) the potential estimated savings; (2) program procedures that prevent undue hardships on affected veterans' family members; and (3) options for program administration.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Congress may wish to consider authorizing VA, like state Medicaid agencies, to recover up to the full costs it incurs to provide nursing home and domiciliary care from the estates of veterans who received care. These funds could be used to help offset increased operating costs, fund care for more veterans, or both.
Closed – Not Implemented
Discussions have been held with staff from the House Budget Committee's working group on national security issues, the Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations, House Committee on Governmental Reform and Oversight, and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The use of estate recovery was presented to the Veterans' Affairs committees as one option for offsetting the costs of eligibility expansions. No specific legislative proposals have been introduced.
To implement an effective program, Congress may wish to consider giving VA authority--similar to Medicaid--to preserve veterans' estates by preventing asset transfers to family members or others that would circumvent cost recovery.
Closed – Not Implemented
No specific legislative proposals have been introduced, but discussions have been held with staff from the House Budget Committee's working group on national security issues, the Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations, House Committee on Governmental Reform and Oversight, and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

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Topics

Government collectionsHealth care cost controlHealth care servicesLong-term careOffsetting collectionsReal propertyReimbursements to governmentState-administered programsVeterans benefitsMedicaid