State Veterans Homes Inspection Simplification Act

The State Veterans Homes Inspection Simplification Act aims to reduce administrative burdens on facilities that provide long-term care for veterans. Currently, many state-run veterans homes must undergo two separate, nearly identical annual inspections: one by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and another by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This bill would allow these homes to forgo the CMS inspection if they have already been certified by the VA, as the two review processes often overlap by as much as 90 percent.

If enacted, the legislation would grant "deeming authority" to the VA, meaning a successful VA inspection would be legally recognized as meeting the standards required for Medicare and Medicaid participation. To ensure safety and quality are maintained, the VA would be required to submit its inspection standards to the Department of Health and Human Services for review every two years. Additionally, the bill proposes to integrate VA inspection data into public reporting platforms like the Nursing Home Care Compare website, providing families with transparent information about the quality of care at these facilities.