The Alliance Applauds Gerald’s Law Passing Through Congress

The Alliance Applauds Gerald's Law Passing Through Congress

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21^st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act moves closer to becoming law

(Washington, DC) - The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) celebrates the historic passage of H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act in the U.S. House of Representatives last night with a bipartisan vote of 389-9. This landmark legislation includes Section 301, Gerald's Law, which addresses a critical gap in benefits impacting seriously-ill veterans and their families receiving hospice care.

The story of Gerald "Jerry" Elliott, a U.S. Army veteran, underscores the importance of this legislative achievement. Diagnosed with cancer, Jerry was admitted to his local Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in 2019 before transitioning to VA hospice care at home to be surrounded by his family. After his death, his family discovered they were ineligible for full burial and funeral financial support because Jerry died outside of a VA facility.

Representative Jack Bergman (MI-01) introduced H.R. 234, Gerald's Law Act, to address this inequity, ensuring that no veteran family would face similar hardships in the future.

The AllianceAlliance, has played an active role in garnering support for this legislation and educating congressional offices on the critical resources needed for veteran patients who need serious illness and end-of-life care.

Nearly 350,000 veterans die annually in the U.S., with 95% dying outside of VA facilities. As of 2024, over 3,000 hospice and non-hospice community partners have committed to providing veteran-centric care through the Alliance's We Honor Veterans program, underscoring the need for equitable benefits for all veterans regardless of where they receive care.

The passage of Gerald's Law ensures that terminally-ill veterans who receive VA-furnished hospice care-whether at home, in a nursing home, or in another non-VA setting-will no longer lose access to their full VA burial allowance. This legislation prioritizes the dignity and comfort of veterans and their families during one of life's most challenging times.

"We are deeply grateful for the bipartisan support of Gerald's Law as part of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act," said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO for the Alliance. "This legislation ensures that veterans and their families can choose hospice care in the setting that best meets their needs without risking the loss of crucial burial benefits. We thank Chairman Bost and the VA Committee for their leadership and look forward to its swift passage in the Senate, hopefully before the end of the year."

The National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care joined the Alliance in endorsing Gerald's Law: "As a Coalition, we are honored to support Gerald's Law alongside the Alliance," said Jessica Hausauer, PhD, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care. "Veterans and their families deserve care in the setting of their choice without losing critical burial benefits because of outdated policies. This legislation upholds veterans' wishes and ensures equitable access to quality end-of-life care.

For more information on care for veterans at the end of life, please visit wehonorveterans.org.

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About the National Alliance for Care at Home
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is a new national organization representing providers of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and other health care services mainly delivered in the home. The Alliance brings together two organizations with nearly 90 years of combined experience: NAHC and NHPCO. NAHC and NHPCO are in the process of combining operations to better serve members and lead into the future of care offered in the home. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.

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