PILOT PROGRAM RELATING TO ASSISTED LIVING.

SEC. 103. PILOT PROGRAM RELATING TO ASSISTED LIVING. (a) Program Authority.—The Secretary may carry out a pilot program for the purpose of determining the feasibility and practicability of enabling eligible veterans to secure needed assisted living services as an alternative to nursing home care. (b) Location of Pilot Program.—The pilot program shall be carried out in a designated health care region of the Department selected by the Secretary for purposes of this section. (c) Scope of Program.—In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary may enter into contracts with appropriate facilities for the provision for a period of up to six months of assisted 113 STAT. 1553 living services on behalf of eligible veterans in the region where the program is carried out. (d) Eligible Veterans.—A veteran is an eligible veteran for purposes of this section if the veteran— (1) is eligible for placement assistance by the Secretary under section 1730(a) of title 38, United States Code; (2) is unable to manage routine activities of daily living without supervision and assistance; and (3) could reasonably be expected to receive ongoing services after the end of the contract period under another government program or through other means. (e) Report.—(1)Not later than 90 days before the end of the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the program. (2) The report under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) A description of the implementation and operation of the program. (B) An analysis comparing use of institutional care among participants in the program with the experience of comparable patients who are not enrolled in the program. (C) A comparison of assisted living services provided by the Department through the pilot program with domiciliary care provided by the Department. (D) The Secretary’s recommendations, if any, regarding an extension of the program. (f) Duration.—The authority of the Secretary to provide services under the pilot program shall cease on the date that is three years after the date of the commencement of the pilot program. (g) Definition.—For purposes of this section, the term “assisted living services” means services in a facility that provides room and board and personal care for and supervision of residents as necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of residents. (h) Standards.—The Secretary may not enter into a contract with a facility under this section unless the facility meets the standards established in regulations prescribed under section 1730 of title 38, United States Code.