Stony Brook, NY – Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, hosted a press conference today at Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook to announce that he introduced bipartisan legislation in Congress (H.R. 2460) to expand disabled veterans’ access to Adult Day Health Care; a daily program for disabled veterans who need extra assistance and special attention in their day to day lives. Congressman Zeldin also announced that in just two weeks, on April 20, 2016, the House Veterans Affairs Committee will be holding a legislative hearing on his bill.
Service members who are 70% or more disabled from a service connected injury often require significant assistance from others in order to carry out basic everyday tasks. Many times the burden falls on family members of disabled veterans; some veterans may even need to reside in institutionalized facilities to receive the daily assistance of a trained medical professional. Both of these options can create financial and emotional hardships. One program that is currently available to help disabled veterans is Adult Day Health Care, which can be offered at State Veteran Homes across the United States. Adult Day Health Care programs provide disabled veterans and their families with a high quality alternative to nursing home care. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not currently cover the cost of participation in this program at state veteran homes and the expense of the program is put directly on the veteran and their family, which significantly limits the number of veterans who can enroll. The program is also only currently offered at three facilities in the United States; one being the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook.
In an effort to expand veterans’ access to this type of care on Long Island and across the country, Congressman Zeldin introduced H.R. 2460 to ensure that severely disabled veterans, those who are 70% or more service connected disabled, are able to receive Adult Day Health Care at no cost to them. The bill would define the Adult Day Health Care program as a reimbursable treatment option through the VA, which would guarantee that all severely disabled veterans are able to access Adult Day Health Care. The bill would help expand this program, which could be offered at any of the 153 State Veterans Homes (SVH) across the country.
H.R. 2460 has strong bipartisan support in Congress, with already over 45 cosponsors, including the entire Long Island Congressional Delegation.
Congressman Lee Zeldin said, “It must always be a top priority of Congress to ensure that all veterans receive the proper treatment and care they deserve after fighting for our country. My bill, which has strong bipartisan support in Congress, with over 45 cosponsors including the entire Long Island Congressional Delegation, is just one more way that we can expand care for veterans. By providing disabled veterans with access to Adult Day Health Care programs, we can ensure that all veterans receive the best and most efficient outpatient services to provide them with the assistance and special attention that they need in their day to day lives, while still allowing them to maintain their independence. Adult Day Health Care allows the veteran to lead a much more fulfilling life, and also helps keep families together and strong. I will continue the fight in Congress to expand Adult Day Health Care for our disabled veterans.”
“I applaud Congressman Zeldin for leading the way to advocate for severely disabled veterans at the federal level by introducing this legislation that will expand access to the Adult Day Health Care services for disabled military personnel across the country. The Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook is one of only two facilities to offer these services, and the premier services they have offered to disabled veterans should be replicated in an effort to reach as many veterans as possible,” stated New York State Senator Tom Croci, Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine said, "Congressman Zeldin has a solid record of support for our veterans and those who are currently in the armed forces. I commend his efforts to make sure that the men and women who bravely served our country get the best possible care in their time of greatest need. This bill certainly eases the economic and emotional burden that many veterans and their families must bear."
Dr. Kenneth Kushanksy, Dean on the School of Medicine and Senior Vice President of Health Sciences at Stony Brook University said, “Stony Brook Medicine wants to acknowledge Congressman Zeldin for submitting this legislation on behalf of veterans and their families. Providing funding for a long term care alternative, like medical model adult day healthcare, will give our veterans and their families much deserved choice. Stony Brook Medicine serves as a model for the rest of the nation as it relates to long term care for our nations heroes, and we are proud to be a part of this initiative.”
Fred Sganga, Director of the Long Island State Veterans Home said, “Since the original legislation to provide no cost skilled nursing care to our veterans who are 70% or more service connected disabled was passed into law in 2006, those veterans who could possibly be served by an alternative like medical model adult day healthcare have been shortchanged of this wonderful opportunity. Congressman Zeldin had the resolve to recognize this issue and bring an appropriate fix not only for the Long Island State Veterans Home, but for the other 152 State Veterans homes across the country.”
Dr. Frank Cervo, Medical Director for the Long Island State Veterans Home said, “As a board certified Geriatrician, I certainly recognize the value of allowing an individual to age in their own home. Our medical model adult day healthcare program affords veterans the opportunity to receive comprehensive medical and nursing services during the day while continuing to reside in the community. This commonsense legislation will benefit our heroes and we are proud to stand with Congressman Zeldin in support of this essential measure.”
Mike Pascal, Former State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars said, “As a combat veteran who proudly served our country during Vietnam, I recognize the plight of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during their military service. The VA has acknowledged that nearly 40% of Vietnam veterans fall into the category of 70% or more service connected disabilities. Common illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and neuromuscular issues plague many of our veterans on Long Island. As Chairman of the Veterans Advisory Board at the Long Island State Veterans Home, I am so proud that Stony Brook Medicine provides this valuable service that will meet the needs of our ailing veterans, and I thank Congressman Zeldin for his leadership on this issue.”