Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act
Sponsored By: Senator King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced
Summary
Creates an optional VA reimbursement or direct-supply path for high-cost medications given to veterans in State veterans homes. It sets a cost threshold so only drugs that are unusually expensive relative to the home's monthly payment qualify.
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- Veterans in State homes: Residents needing very expensive drugs would get those medicines covered or supplied by the VA when the drug's cost exceeds the threshold, reducing the home's immediate drug expense.
- State veterans homes: Homes can elect each month whether to have the VA reimburse them or to have the VA directly furnish the costly medication when a one-month supply's average wholesale price plus a 3% transaction fee is greater than 8.5% of the home's payment for that veteran.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: The VA would operate this optional payment or furnishing mechanism alongside existing payments, limited to medications that meet the defined cost test.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Drug cost help for State home veterans
If enacted, the VA would be able to reimburse a State veterans home for a high-cost drug or furnish that drug to the home. This would be in addition to the usual monthly payment the VA makes to the home. A drug would be "costly" for a month if its one-month average wholesale price plus a 3% transaction fee is greater than 8.5% of the VA's monthly payment to the home for that veteran. The home must be providing nursing care under a VA contract and must choose the reimbursement or furnishing option for that month.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
ME • I
Cosponsors
Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]
IN • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov