“SAVE LIVES” Act Signed into Law

​​On Wednesday, March 24, President Joe Biden signed into law H.R. 1276, the “Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every Spouse Act” or the SAVE LIVES Act, which expands Veterans Administration authority to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to veterans, their families, and their caregivers.

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Covered individuals can receive a vaccine from VA due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. Under the bill, covered individuals are:

• Veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system;
• Veterans who are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad;
• Family caregivers approved as providers of personal care services for Veterans under the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;
• Caregivers of Veterans participating in the VA’s Program of General Caregiver Support Services; and
• Caregivers of Veterans participating in the VA’s Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program.
• Civilian Health and Medical Programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs recipients.
• Veteran spouses.

VA must prioritize the vaccination of (1) Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, (2) Veterans who fail to enroll but receive hospital care and medical services for specified disabilities in their first 12 months of separation from service, and (3) caregivers accompanying such prioritized Veterans. 

HCAOA will keep members informed as the VA formulates its plan to implement this new law. To learn how to get COVID-19 vaccine from the VA, click here.