Bill · S. 5497· Senate(119-S-5497)
Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act
- Introduced
- 9/24/2026
- Last activity
- 9/24/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Angus King
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act. It requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to either reimburse State homes for costly medications or directly provide those medications to them. This rule applies to costly medications given to veterans who are receiving nursing home care in State homes. A medication is considered costly if its one-month supply price, plus a three percent transaction fee, is more than 8.5 percent of the standard payment the Secretary makes to the State home for that veteran's care.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+7
Veterans receiving nursing home care in State homes will benefit from guaranteed access to costly medications without financial strain on their care facilities.
Does this help veterans get medical care?+7
The bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse State homes for costly medications or directly furnish them, improving healthcare support for veterans in nursing homes.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+7
The bill eases the financial burden on State homes by covering expensive medications for veterans receiving nursing home care.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2 allows covered State homes to be reimbursed for costly medications or to have those medications furnished to them by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. This is positive because it helps cover the heavy financial burden of expensive drugs needed by veterans in nursing home care.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that outline potential negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+7Good For Seniors+6
- Healthcare
- Improves Veterans Healthcare+7
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jim BanksRepublican · Indiana