The Senate will soon debate S. 1963, the Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act. The bill contains many provisions regarding caregiver assistance, rural health care for veterans, construction of VA facilities, and several pilot programs. However, the issue that has garnered the most attention is the caregiver assistance.

S.1963 creates a new VA program that provides caregivers of severely disabled wartime veterans the following new benefits. Typically the VA does not provide benefits for non-veterans, this program would be an exception to that. This bill proposes

• monthly stipends for caregivers of disabled wartime veterans (CBO estimates around $2300 per month maximum)
• health coverage for caregivers (if they do not have health insurance)
• travel benefits for caregivers (lodging and per diem when taking veterans to VA hospitals)
• training for caregivers to provide proper medical care and assistance

However, S.1963 as written only provides benefits to veterans injured after September 11, 2001. Also, the bill does not identify a source of funding to pay for the increased spending.

Dr. Coburn’s amendment opens the eligibility for this program to ALL veterans who are severely disabled from wartime service. He also directs that the Secretary of State should transfer funding out of the U.S. contribution to the United Nations to the VA to pay for this program.

If Dr. Coburn’s amendment is not adopted, and S.1963 becomes law, it will exclude a large number of severely disabled wartime veterans from these benefits, maintain funding for the UN, and increase the already massive national debt.

Background on Coburn's U.N. funding offset amendment here.

Background on the Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act here.

For additional information click here.

Majority’s Health Bill Empowers Government Task Force At Center of Mammogram Controversy: click here to see the facts.

Joint Committee on Taxation analysis here

Major CBO Caveats to Cost Containment here