New Help for Disabled Vets

President Trump has signed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Lee Zeldin that expands severely disabled veterans’ access to health day care. 

Veterans whose disabilities are at least 70 percent connected to or aggravated by their military service can need significant day-to-day assistance, with the burden often falling on family members, Mr. Zeldin’s office said in a release. “Some veterans may even need to reside in institutionalized facilities to receive the daily assistance of a trained medical professional. Both of these options can create financial and emotional hardships for the veteran and their family,” acccording to Mr. Zeldin’s office.

Adult day health care for disabled veterans can be provided at state veterans homes, but veterans and their families are often responsible for the cost of the care, and such care is offered only in three facilities in the country, including the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook. 

Mr. Zeldin’s bill, which was signed into law late last month, defined the adult day health care program as a reimbursable treatment option through the Department of Veterans Affairs, making veterans whose disabilities are 70 percent or more service-connected able to access the care at no cost. The bill, which passed in the House of Representatives on a voice vote last year, also expands the program, which could be offered at any of the country’s 153 state veterans homes.

“This is important legislation that provides a valuable and necessary service to our nation’s veterans, and I thank President Trump for signing it into law,” Mr. Zeldin said in a statement. “By expanding access to adult day health care, we can ensure that all veterans receive the best and most efficient outpatient services that provide each veteran with the assistance and special attention they need, while still allowing them to maintain their independence.”