Vets Get More Homecare Options: New Bill Expands Community Care to Include Nurse Registries

The Veterans Homecare Choice Act of 2025 is pretty straightforward: it lets veterans get homecare services through nurse registries, expanding the options available under the existing Veterans Community Care Program. Right now, the program doesn't specifically include these registries, which are basically matchmakers between healthcare workers (like RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and home health aides) and patients needing care at home. This bill changes that, effective immediately upon becoming law.

Making the Connection

The core change here is adding "nurse registries" to the list of approved providers in the Veterans Community Care Program (Title 38, United States Code, Section 1703). The bill defines a nurse registry as an entity that connects healthcare professionals with patients for homecare or assistive services, provided they meet state licensing requirements. So, if a veteran in Florida needs a home health aide and a Florida-licensed registry has one available, that's now an option under the Community Care Program.

Real-World Rollout

Imagine a veteran recovering from surgery who needs help with daily tasks like bathing and dressing. Before this bill, their options might have been limited to specific home health agencies directly contracted with the VA. Now, if a nurse registry in their area has a qualified, certified nursing assistant available, that veteran has another avenue for getting the care they need. This is a potential win for veterans, expanding their choices and giving flexibility in finding the care that fits their needs, and for healthcare workers, opening up more opportunities to provide those services.

Keeping It Legit

The bill is clear that these nurse registries have to play by the rules. They need to meet all the licensing requirements in their state (SEC. 2). This is crucial for maintaining quality and ensuring veterans are getting care from qualified professionals. This also means that the effectiveness of this expansion hinges on how well states regulate these registries. If a state has lax oversight, the potential for problems increases. But, if the state has solid, enforced standards, it's a good safeguard for vets.

The Big Picture

This bill is an update to how the VA handles homecare, fitting into the broader framework of the Community Care Program, which aims to give veterans more choices outside the traditional VA system. The Veterans Homecare Choice Act of 2025 directly addresses a gap in the existing system by opening up a wider pool of providers, and by linking veterans to a wider network of healthcare professionals, it could make finding and receiving homecare a smoother process for those who've served.