By Teresa Morris, NOVA Director, Advocacy & Government Relations

Greetings NOVA Members –

Both Chambers of Congress (House and Senate) are back in session with a busy fall agenda – in particular, is the urgency to pass fiscal year funding to keep the government running after September 30.

VA funding for FY 2023 was included in a mini omnibus (HR 8924) passed by the House in July. The Senate Appropriations Committee released the text of their bill in August. VA's budget for Medical Care for FY 2023 is $122.7 billion, and the FY 2024 Advance Appropriation is $132.1 billion.  As both sides continue to debate funding, it looks like negotiations on a continuing resolution (CR) are in play to fund the government until December.    

H.R. 1276, the VA Vaccine Act - enacted as part of the Save Lives Act, allows VA to provide COVID vaccines to caregivers, spouses, and others in the community.

H.R. 2441, Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act establishes new Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) programs through the VA and supports additional research on rural veteran mental health care needs.

H.R. 5575/S.3820, VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act - enacted as part of the FY 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act moved Title 38 RNs to Level II and APRNs, PAs to Level I, and allows CRNAs to move above the Level I cap where they currently stand.

2022 Executive & Senior Level Employee Pay Tables

RAISE Act Frequently Asked Questions

H.R. 4794/S.2533, Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act provides updated mammogram and breast cancer treatment at VA.

H.R. 3967/S.3373, The Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021(PACT Act), which contains WISE Act provisions. The historic legislation adds 23 toxic and burn pit exposure conditions to the VA's database, while expanding care for post-9/11 veterans who were exposed to burn pits. It also contains provisions (Title IX) that expands HR and looks to improve staffing vacancies by allowing some elimination of caps on bonuses, and other incentives within VA.

More details can be found here: FACT SHEET: PACT Act Delivers on President Biden’s Promise to America’s Veterans

Other bills of interest still awaiting action include:
 
HR 3693, the VA CPE Modernization Act, which would expand and increase tuition and course fees for all VA clinicians allowing nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and others to be eligible for educational benefits. If passed, it will provide full-time healthcare professionals to include RN, APRN, LVN/LPN to receive $2,000 annually for education expenses. 

A larger Veterans legislative package continues to be negotiated and more critical expiring authorities await debate before the final gavel falls on the 117th Congress.

Stay tuned to NOVA’s website and social media for updates on legislation and other items of interest that affect VA healthcare. 

Stay Tuned!