King, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Care Coordination for Veterans Using Both VA Health Care and Medicare

February 21, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), a member and chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) respectively, are introducing legislation to better coordinate and manage health care for veterans who are enrolled in both Medicare and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) health care system. TheCoordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Actwould 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 them develop individualized care plans and manage the delivery of health care services in an effort to increase access to care, eliminate duplication of services, improve quality of care and lower expenses for taxpayers.
“Our veterans gave their very best while serving and they deserve that same focus in return long after they’ve hung up the uniform,”said Senator King. “Navigating the VA health care system is already challenging enough, but for veterans who also receive benefits through Medicare, it can be extra difficult to navigate between the two providers — both for veterans and caregivers. The bipartisanCoordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Actwill work to seamlessly merge and coordinate care between the VA and Medicare, helping to connect the dots for former servicemembers, eliminate duplicative services and lower costs for taxpayers. It’s a win-win across the board.”“Helping veterans, as well as their caregivers and providers, understand and navigate both Medicare and VA health care will eliminate gaps in care, improve outcomes and quality and lower expenses for taxpayers,”said Sen. Moran. “TheCoordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Acthelps make certain veterans can fully use the care they have qualified for and earned through their service. I am grateful to Sen. King for co-leading this bill and our veterans service organization partners for their support.”“Wounded Warrior Project is pleased to support the Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Access Act,”said Jose Ramos, Vice President for Government and Community Relations for the Wounded Warrior Project.“Innovative pilot programs like the one envisioned by this bill help us better understand what's possible in our effort to improve the systems of care that support our nation's heroes.? With better case coordination and health care outcomes as the goal, this pilot program can help younger veterans who use Medicare earlier in life because of catastrophic injuries from military service.? We thank Senators Moran and King for their vision and leadership on this issue and urge Congress to pass this important legislation.”
“Many veterans with disabilities rely on both VA health care and Medicare to meet their healthcare needs,”said Heather Ansley, Chief Policy Officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America.“This can lead to a duplication of care, poor coordination of services, higher costs; and in the worst of cases, endangers the health and wellbeing of the veteran. PVA supports the Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act, which tests VA’s ability to coordinate and manage care and benefits between these two systems for covered veterans.”
"AMVETS proudly endorses the Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act,”said Joe Chenelly, the National Executive Director of AMVETS. “Ensuring easy access to healthcare services and seamless system interoperability is essential for all veterans."
“We hear from caregivers every day who struggle to navigate the complex system of available VA services on behalf of their loved ones,”said Steve Schwab, Chief Executive Officer of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “Too often, this means that the veteran is unable to access needed care, and the caregiver suffers added stress, anxiety, and frustration. Therefore, we are very pleased that Chairman Moran and Senator King are joining together to re-introduce theCoordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Actto help these especially vulnerable veterans and their families connect to vital programs.”Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King has been a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. Last year, the Wounded Warrior Projectnamed Senator King the Legislator of the Year Awardfor “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.” Earlier this week,in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans’ medical records stored in VA’s computer systems. Previously, Senator King introducedtheLethal Means Safe Storage for Veteran Suicide Prevention Actto provide firearm storage to veterans in an effort to reduce suicides among the veteran population. Senator King alsocosponsored legislationto ensure military families have access to critical health care during pregnancy, rather than waiting until after childbirth to increase their coverage. In addition, he helped passtheVeterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.
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