S. 1853: Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025, aims to enhance specific provisions related to Native Hawaiian veterans within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The main objectives of the bill include:

1. Direct Housing Loans for Native Hawaiian Veterans

The bill modifies the existing program for direct housing loans provided to Native American veterans. It updates the definition of what constitutes a Native American veteran according to the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996. This aims to ensure that Native Hawaiians have better access to housing loan opportunities that are available to other Native American veterans.

2. Improvement of Medical Care Provisions

The bill seeks to improve the provision of medical care for Native Hawaiian veterans in the following ways:

a. Reimbursement for Care Provided Through Native Hawaiian Health Care System

The bill establishes a new requirement for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse Native Hawaiian health care systems for costs associated with care provided to veterans. This reimbursement would cover various types of care, whether directly provided, purchased, or referred through contracts, thus ensuring that Native Hawaiian veterans receive necessary medical services without financial barriers.

b. Exemption from Cost Sharing

The bill proposes changes to the existing cost-sharing provisions to exempt Native Hawaiians from certain costs associated with their medical care. Specifically, it specifies that Native Hawaiians, as defined by the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act, will not be subjected to these costs when receiving care.

Additional Details

The legislation includes clerical amendments to facilitate the changes in reimbursement processes and program definitions. These adjustments are intended to streamline administration and ensure that Native Hawaiian veterans have improved access to housing and health services compared to what they might have experienced previously.

Relevant Companies

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