10.23.20

Hoeven: DOL Provides Regulatory Relief for Health Care & LTC Providers That Serve Veterans

Senator Working to Secure Permanent Exemption from Burdensome Hiring Mandates, Enable More Facilities to Contract with the VA

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) extended a moratorium on certain hiring regulations for Veterans Affairs Health Benefits Program (VAHBP) providers, providing regulatory relief for facilities that treat veterans, including long-term care (LTC) facilities, while the senator continues working to secure a permanent solution. This follows conversations Hoeven has held with Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, urging them to remove burdensome mandates under the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) that discourage health care providers from contracting with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The moratorium provides greater certainty to providers and helps increase access to critical health care services, including LTC, for veterans and their families. The moratorium is now in place until May 7, 2023, during which time Hoeven will continue to work with the administration to advance long-term regulatory relief, similar to the permanent exemption already in place for TRICARE providers.

“This exemption is a welcome step to provide regulatory relief to the health care and long-term care providers, like nursing homes and assisted living facilities, that serve our veterans,” said Hoeven. “We appreciate Secretaries Scalia and Wilkie, as well as OFCCP Director Leen, for working with us on this priority, and we will continue our efforts with the administration to secure a permanent exemption that will make it easier for additional providers to contract with the VA. That means more options for care, closer to veterans’ home communities.”

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