VA Family Caregiver Proposed Program Overhaul Could Extend Eligibility for Thousands
The VA announced a proposal that would overhaul its Program for Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. The 198-page proposed rule would expand eligibility for thousands of Veterans and affect eligibility for thousands of Veterans already enrolled in the program.
What is The Program for Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers?
The Program for Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) provides benefits to eligible caregivers of severely injured Veterans who need at-home care. The benefits offered to family caregivers include monthly stipends, respite care, health care, and counseling.
When PCAFC was established in 2010, the VA determined eligibility based on level of injury, such as brain injury, psychological trauma, or other mental health disorders, as well as the need for assistance based on the injured Veteran’s inability to perform one or more activities of daily living.
The Mission Act of 2018 established new eligibility criteria that included serious injury but had a primary focus on a Veteran’s need for physical help. The change in eligibility criteria under the Mission Act resulted in thousands of caregivers losing their eligibility.
What Are the Proposed Changes to PCAFC?
According to the VA, the program overhaul could add between 1,717 and 3,124 Veterans into PCAFC in the next five years. Here are five of the proposed changes:
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Expand eligibility for PCAFC to include Veterans who have an individual unemployability VA designation.
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Make the home assessments required for the program less intrusive, reassessing eligibility no more than every two years instead of the current one-year requirement.
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Allow the VA to conduct home visits by telehealth In the event of an emergency.
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Provide or renew eligibility for Veterans and caregivers who live in assisted living facilities that do not offer personal care assistance, such as senior housing apartments or condominiums.
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Provide up to three months’ stipend and benefits for caregivers who request removal from the program as a result of domestic violence from the Veteran they are taking care of.
When Will the Changes Take Effect?
The VA cannot be certain of when the changes can be expected to take effect. The rule change is currently open for public comments. At the end of the 60 day period, February 4, the department will begin to analyze the comments and decide if more changes are necessary.
“The exact extension remains to be seen because we don’t know how many comments we are going to get,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal. “The complexity of those comments, how they might change the proposed rule to the final, all that is variable on public comment.”
Despite the uncertainty, VA officials have said they hope the rulemaking process will be finished by March 2026.
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