H.R. 7199: Gerald’s Law Act

This bill, known as the "Gerald’s Law Act," proposes changes to the burial allowance provided to certain veterans who die at home while receiving hospice care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Here are the main points of the bill:

Burial Allowance Changes

The bill aims to amend existing regulations regarding the burial benefits for veterans. Specifically:

• The burial allowance will extend to veterans who die at home while under hospice care, provided that the hospice care was preceded by the veteran receiving hospital or nursing home care from the VA.
• The change in regulation clarifies and expands the criteria for which veterans can receive this burial allowance to include those in home hospice settings.

Implementation

The changes proposed by this bill would take effect as if they were included in previous legislation concerning veterans' health care and benefits, known as the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.

Summary of Benefits

Veterans who qualify under the new provision will gain access to a burial allowance, which is financial support to help cover the costs associated with funeral and burial expenses. This adjustment aims to provide additional support to veterans who choose to spend their final days at home rather than in a medical facility.

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