S. 3647: Disabled Veterans Dignity Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Disabled Veterans Dignity Act of 2026, aims to establish a program by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs specifically designed to address the bowel and bladder care needs of veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Here is a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Findings

The bill outlines several findings, emphasizing:

• Bowel and bladder care is essential for veterans who cannot manage these functions independently due to spinal cord injuries.
• Inadequate care can lead to serious health complications.
• Effective care improves the quality of life and helps prevent hospitalization.
• Family and individually employed caregivers play a critical role in supporting veterans' needs.

Sense of Congress

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that:

• Caregivers should not be treated as contractors and should not be subjected to self-employment taxes.
• Veterans should have flexible timings for their care based on individual needs.
• Ongoing assessments of veterans' care needs should only occur if justified by medical providers.

Bowel and Bladder Care Program

The proposed program will include the following key points:

Establishment of Program

• The Secretary must create a program that provides bowel and bladder care to veterans based on their medical needs.

Provision of Care

• Care will be provided based on individual assessments and can be administered by qualified family members, individually employed caregivers, or home health agencies.
• Denials of care will require reviews from appropriate medical centers before a decision is made.

Coordination of Care

• The program will coordinate with other benefits and services available to veterans to ensure comprehensive support without duplication.

Supportive Training

• Caregivers will receive medical training to provide adequate care and ensure that payments can be made by the Secretary for their services.
• Standards for caregivers will be established to maintain care quality and financial integrity of the program.

Payment Structure

• The Secretary will provide monthly stipends to family caregivers and payments to home health agencies participating in the program.
• Stipend amounts will be determined based on the level of assistance provided, with specific limits set according to federal guidelines.

Documentation

• Caregivers will need to submit documentation as required by the Secretary to receive payments.

Long-term Care Needs

• If a veteran requires ongoing care for three years or more, it will be assumed that they will need this support indefinitely unless otherwise determined by a medical provider.

Care Provider Status

• Family members and caregivers will not be classified as vendors or contractors, which means they will have different tax and employment implications.

Eligibility for the Program

• The bill defines a covered veteran as one who is enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs, has a spinal cord injury or disorder, and requires assistance with bowel and bladder care.

Relevant Companies

• None found