The president signed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act into law Jan. 2, after years of advocacy by more than 40 veterans organizations. This landmark bipartisan bill, representing more than 90 pieces of legislation developed throughout the 118th Congress, provides significant relief to veterans and their families by expanding benefits, enhancing services, and improving long-term care solutions.

This bill includes a revised provision which significantly impacts the survivor benefit for veterans who die as a result of ALS. The legislation removes the eight-year disability requirement for surviving spouses of veterans with ALS. The previous law required veterans to live with a disability for eight years, in order for their surviving spouse to receive the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation kicker. The kicker is a monthly payment that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives to surviving spouses of veterans who were 100% disabled before they died. The Elizabeth Dole Act removes this 8-year requirement, which often left spouses of veterans with ALS ineligible for certain benefits. 

Another major aspect of this legislation impacts VA burial allowances. This landmark legislation includes Section 301, Gerald’s Law, which addresses a critical gap in benefits for Veterans. Gerald’s Law ensures that families of terminally-ill Veterans receiving Veterans Affairs (VA)-furnished hospice care—whether at home, in a nursing home, or in another non-VA setting—retain access to their full VA burial allowance.

Some key benefits of the legislation include:

 Home Care and Caregiver Support

• Full Coverage for Home Nursing Care: Increases the VA’s share of home nursing care costs from 65% to 100%, expanding access to these essential services.
• Mental Health Grants for Caregivers: Provides grants and contracts to mental health service providers for family caregivers.
• Streamlined Application Processes: Reduces bureaucratic hurdles for caregivers seeking benefits.
• Expanded Support Programs: Offers training, financial aid, and mental health resources for caregivers not eligible for VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).
• Home Health Aides Pilot Program: Launches a pilot program to hire nursing assistants for in-home care in underserved regions.

 Fighting Veteran Homelessness

• Higher Per Diem for Transitional Housing: Boosts rates from 115% of costs to 133%, with higher rates for regions with elevated costs.
• Basic Necessities for Unhoused Veterans: Allows the VA to supply bedding, hygiene products, food, and transportation to medical appointments.
• Prevention Efforts: Strengthens initiatives to identify veterans at risk of homelessness and includes funding for job training, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment. 

Access to VA Health Care

• Home- and Community-Based Care: Allocates funds for in-home care services and related items.
• Same-Day Scheduling: Mandates a plan for same-day appointment scheduling.
• Dental Benefits: Establishes a pilot dental program for veterans with heart disease and improvements to existing programs and services.
• Telehealth Services: Enhances telehealth options for rural and underserved veterans.
• Rural Ambulance Coverage: Provides reimbursements for ambulance transportation in remote areas.
• Mobile Mammography: Expands funding for mobile mammography services.
• Mental Health Services: Strengthens reporting requirements on VA mental health services and suicide prevention efforts, while increasing non-VA mental health support options for veterans in the community.

 Education, Employment, and Economic Benefits

• Education Benefits: Enhances the Fry Scholarship and the GI Bill housing stipend.
• Oversight of Institutions: Tightens oversight of educational providers serving veterans.
• Technology Training: Expands access to high-tech training and education programs for veterans transitioning to civilian careers.
• Home Loan Adjustments: Introduces changes benefitting Native American veterans.
• Updated Burial Allowances: Broaden eligibility for burial allowances and revises definitions for surviving spouses.

This bill represents the collective efforts of more than 40 veteran advocacy groups consolidating their effort to improve veteran health and Wellness programs. It is great to see so many people working together to make a positive impact on those who served our country.