Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act
Lets covered State homes choose VA reimbursement or direct provision for certain costly medications for veterans in nursing home care.
In the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 12 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Nursing homes operated by states provide care to some veterans under agreements with the VA. The bill would let covered State homes choose VA reimbursement or direct provision for medications whose monthly cost, including a transaction fee, exceeds a set share of the payment for that veteran's care.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Covers certain costly medications
For a covered State home providing nursing home care under a VA contract or agreement, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would have to either reimburse the home for a qualifying medication or furnish the medication, at the home's election. A medication qualifies when its average wholesale price for a month's supply plus a 3% transaction fee exceeds 8.5% of the VA payment for that veteran's care during that month.
The bill addresses the cost of medications that can be large compared with the VA payment for a veteran's monthly care. It would give covered State homes a way to seek reimbursement or receive the medication directly, rather than leaving that medication cost outside the existing care payment.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026SENATESEP 24, 2026By Sen. Jr. with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Veterans' Affairs
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 24, 2026VETERANS' AFFAIRS NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 12 daysNo hearing yet
- 12 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 12, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
In committee · Veterans' Affairs · 53 cosponsors (26 R · 27 D) · introduced by Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
H.R. 1970 is the same bill introduced in the House. Companion bills let both chambers work on one idea at once; when one passes, the other chamber often takes up the version that already passed.
OPEN H.R. 1970 →Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, an independent. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, an independent. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. King’s record: sponsored 39 bills this Congress. 3 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Jim BanksR-INORIGINAL
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