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AB-557 Veterans’ homes: accounting of charges.(2013-2014)

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Assembly Bill No. 557
CHAPTER 134

An act to amend Section 1035.6 of the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.

[ Approved by Governor  August 26, 2013. Filed with Secretary of State  August 26, 2013. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 557, Yamada. Veterans’ homes: accounting of charges.
Under existing law, a member of a veterans’ home is required to pay fees and charges as determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Existing law requires the administrator of the home to provide each member with a quarterly statement or accounting of all charges for the costs of care rendered to the member in excess of the member fee, as defined. Existing law requires the quarterly statement or accounting to include, among other things, a statement that, if the veteran is a resident of the home at the time of death, the home may use his or her money or personal property that is in the possession of the home for payment of unreimbursed costs of care.
This bill would require the statement contained in the quarterly statement or accounting described above to also specify that the home may use the deceased veteran’s money or personal property that is outside the home for payment of unreimbursed costs of care. This bill would require the quarterly statement or accounting and any notice relating to quarterly statements posted in any veterans’ home to be in 14-point font or larger.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 1035.6 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read:

1035.6.
 (a) The administrator shall provide each member of the home with a quarterly statement or accounting of all charges for the costs of care rendered to the member in excess of the member fee, as defined in subdivision (b). The quarterly statement or accounting of charges shall include, in plain, straightforward language, avoiding technical terms as much as possible and using a coherent and easily readable style, all of the following:
(1) A statement that the charges for the excess costs of care are provided to the member for informational purposes only.
(2) A statement that, if the veteran is a resident of the home at the time of death, the home may use his or her money or personal property that is in possession of the home or outside the home for payment of unreimbursed costs of care.
(3) A statement that advises the member to seek counsel from a legal expert to protect his or her assets.
(b) “Costs of care in excess of the member fee” means all costs that are not covered by the member contribution fee, including, but not limited to, the unreimbursed costs of medical or dental services rendered to the member, either by the home or under contract with the home. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall promulgate regulations specifying the costs that are in excess of the member contribution fee and constitute the unreimbursed costs of care.
(c) The quarterly statement or accounting described in subdivision (a) and any notice relating to quarterly statements posted in any veterans’ home shall be in 14-point font or larger.