WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has joined Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., in introducing a bill to protect certain funds for veterans’ health care. The legislation would clarify the rules that determine the way the Department of Veterans Affairs distributes funds to support State Veterans Homes across the country.

States receive a federal “per diem” payment to assist in caring for each wartime veteran who resides in a qualified State Veterans Home. A recent administrative ruling put into question whether these federal per diem payments could be reduced if the patient also receives Medicaid coverage. The Campbell-Collins legislation would protect those VA dollars from being taken away from State Veterans Homes.

“Veterans have earned their health care benefits, which they often need to take care of ailments they suffered in serving our country. Those benefits should not be taken away from them for any reason,” said Collins.