{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-banks-king-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-veterans-access-to-high-cost-prescription-medication-in-state-homes/", "Sens. Banks, King Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans\u2019 Access to High-Cost Prescription Medication in State Homes", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Jim Banks", "B001299", "www.banks.senate.gov", "banks", "https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 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\u2019 homes. TheProviding Veterans Essential Medications Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse state veterans\u2019 homes for high-cost medications or provide the drugs directly. Currently, VA only provides a limited per diem rate to cover drug costs, which is often insufficient.\n\nSen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): \u201cState veterans\u2019 homes should never have to turn away elderly and disabled veterans because lifesaving medications are too expensive. This bipartisan bill will help states cover those costs and expedite care for our nation\u2019s heroes.\u201d\n\nSen. Angus King (I-Maine): \u201cOur men and women in uniform didn\u2019t hesitate when it came time to answer the call and serve our nation \u2013 we shouldn\u2019t hesitate to make their retirement from service as comfortable as possible. If the VA covers veterans\u2019 medication when they are living at a private nursing home, those cost reimbursements should be the same when veterans choose to enter a facility that specializes in taking care of veterans. This bipartisan Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act is a crucial piece of legislation that will ensure our veterans continue to receive the care they have earned, regardless of where they choose to live.\u201d\n\nIndiana Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs Director Jake Adams: \u201cVeterans have earned the peace of mind that comes with reliable, affordable access to the medications they depend on. The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act reinforces that commitment by ensuring state veterans\u2019 homes have the resources necessary to supply high-cost medications\u2014allowing them to serve more veterans who need specialized care.\u201d\n\nKey Provisions of the Providing Veterans Essential Medication Act:\n\nRequires the VA to reimburse state veterans\u2019 homes for prescription medications that cost more than the 8.5% applicable VA per diem rate.\n\nAllows the VA to provide high-cost medications directly to state veterans\u2019 homes as an alternative reimbursement.\n\nGives state veterans\u2019 homes the same type of support that the VA already provides to many private contract nursing homes.\n\nHelps prevent elderly and severely disabled veterans from being denied admission or discharged because of the cost of lifesaving medications.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe VA covers high-cost medications for eligible veterans living in VA community living centers and private contract nursing homes. However, veterans living in state veterans\u2019 homes do not receive the same coverage. Instead, they receive a daily per diem from the VA and are expected to use that payment to cover all necessary care, including prescription medications. Some lifesaving medications, including chemotherapy and cutting-edge cancer treatments, can cost as much as $20,000 per month \u2013 far exceeding the VA\u2019s daily payment. As a result, state veterans\u2019 home may struggle to absorb the costs, deny admission to severely disabled veterans, or discharge residents whose medications become too expensive.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-banks-king-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-veterans-access-to-high-cost-prescription-medication-in-state-homes/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5472718514502048, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}