U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Angus King, of Maine, members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee introduced legislation to better coordinate and manage health care for veterans who receive services through medicare and the Department of Veteran Affairs.
A significant number of veterans over age 65 and veterans who have disabilities, are enrolled in both Medicare and the VA Health Care System. Dual enrollment can lead to challenges with navigating between agencies, and a lack of coordination can result in fragmented and more expensive care. The Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act would create a three-year pilot program where veterans who are enrolled in both Medicare and VA health care would be assigned a case manager to help develop individualized care plans and manage the delivery of health care services. This would help eliminate gaps in care and duplication of services, improve quality of care and lower expenses for taxpayers.
Senator Moran says the bill will help senior veterans and those with disabilities, as well as their caregivers and providers, to better understand and navigate the two ways to receive care.
