This legislation, titled the "State Veterans Homes Inspection Simplification Act," aims to streamline the certification process for State Veterans Homes under Medicare and Medicaid. It proposes that State Veterans Homes inspected and certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can be deemed to meet Medicare and Medicaid requirements, reducing duplicative inspections. For this deeming authority to apply, the VA must provide inspection documentation upon request, and its survey standards and inspection procedures must undergo biennial joint review with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure continued alignment with Medicare Conditions of Participation. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must approve the VA's standards, ensuring they include CMS survey protocols and uphold at least the same standards for resident care, safety, transparency, and accountability. Importantly, HHS retains the authority to conduct complaint investigations, targeted surveys, impose remedies, and revoke deemed status if the VA's certification process is inconsistent with federal standards. Furthermore, the bill mandates that VA inspection and certification data be publicly reported on the Nursing Home Care Compare website, and directs HHS and VA to align data and survey processes for consistency and transparency within 180 days of enactment.
State Veterans Homes Inspection Simplification Act
USA119th CongressS-3532| Senate
| Updated: 12/17/2025
This legislation, titled the "State Veterans Homes Inspection Simplification Act," aims to streamline the certification process for State Veterans Homes under Medicare and Medicaid. It proposes that State Veterans Homes inspected and certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can be deemed to meet Medicare and Medicaid requirements, reducing duplicative inspections. For this deeming authority to apply, the VA must provide inspection documentation upon request, and its survey standards and inspection procedures must undergo biennial joint review with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure continued alignment with Medicare Conditions of Participation. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must approve the VA's standards, ensuring they include CMS survey protocols and uphold at least the same standards for resident care, safety, transparency, and accountability. Importantly, HHS retains the authority to conduct complaint investigations, targeted surveys, impose remedies, and revoke deemed status if the VA's certification process is inconsistent with federal standards. Furthermore, the bill mandates that VA inspection and certification data be publicly reported on the Nursing Home Care Compare website, and directs HHS and VA to align data and survey processes for consistency and transparency within 180 days of enactment.