By Sheff Richey
ASHA continues to work in coalition with our long-term care partners, Argentum, LeadingAge and NCAL as well as the Alzheimer’s Association to advance legislation to create a pilot program within the Veterans Administration (VA) to allow veterans access to assisted living as an alternative to a nursing home. Included in a larger package of veteran’s health care proposals, H.R. 8371, The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, has broad support in both Chambers but is currently being held up in the House over some provisions unrelated to the assisted living piece of the package. We sent a letter to House leadership urging them to advance this bill by placing it on the Suspension Calendar, a means of moving non-controversial legislation, directly to the House floor, thereby “suspending the rules.” Passage requires a two-thirds vote of the House members present. Our letter references the over 40 organizations that support H.R. 8371, including 20 Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), and urges action before the August recess.