Support legislation to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse State Veterans Homes for high-cost medications exceeding 8.5% of their per diem rate or provide those medications directly.

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to improve access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans living in state veterans’ homes. The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act would require the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to reimburse State Veterans Homes (SVH) for high-cost medications that exceed 8.5% of their per diem rate, like the arrangement many private contract nursing homes currently have with the VA. Alternatively, it could require the VA to provide these medications directly to the SVHs.

King introduced bipartisan legislation to require VA reimbursement or direct provision of high-cost medications for veterans in State Veterans Homes.

King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans’ Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.5

verified · Source version 86638 · locator 1276

Mr. King (for himself and Mr. Banks) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): GovInfo's official bill record shows Senator Angus King introduced S. 5497, the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act, during the lookback window.

delivered same_term A for effort

S. 5497 (IS) - Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act - BILLS-119s5497is | Content Details | GovInfo
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 94%

verified · Source version 86640 · locator 65

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse State homes for the cost of, or to furnish to State homes, certain costly medications provided to veterans who receive nursing home care in such State homes, and for other purposes.

Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The official bill text matches the commitment's core policy: VA reimbursement or direct furnishing of costly medications for veterans in State homes.

delivered same_term A for effort

S. 5497 (Introduced-in-Senate)
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 93%

verified · Source version 86640 · locator 1594

The term ‘costly medication’ means a drug or medicine for which the average wholesale price for one month’s supply, plus a 3 percent transaction fee, exceeds 8.5 percent of the payment under subparagraph (A) by the Secretary to a covered State home for care provided to the veteran who receives such costly medication during such month.

Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The introduced bill includes the specific 8.5% threshold named in the commitment.

delivered same_term A for effort

S. 5497 (Introduced-in-Senate)
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 93%

verified · Source version 86630 · locator 1382

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to improve access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans living in state veterans’ homes.

Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): King's Senate office announced his introduction of the relevant bipartisan legislation within the lookback window.

delivered same_term A for effort

King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans’ Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications
primary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 91%

verified · Source version 86630 · locator 1547

The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act would require the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to reimburse State Veterans Homes (SVH) for high-cost medications that exceed 8.5% of their per diem rate

Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): King's announcement describes the bill as requiring VA reimbursement for State Veterans Homes when medication costs exceed 8.5% of the per diem rate.

delivered same_term A for effort

King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans’ Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications
primary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 92%

unverified · Source version 86642 · locator unknown

Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans living in state veterans’ homes.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Senator Banks's official release independently confirms that Banks and King introduced the bill during the lookback window.

delivered same_term A for effort

Sens. Banks, King Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans’ Access to High-Cost Prescription Medication in State Homes
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%