US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 1717

Home health services; invalid lifts and other devices

(a)
(1)
section 1710(a) of this title As part of medical services furnished to a veteran under , the Secretary may furnish such home health services as the Secretary finds to be necessary or appropriate for the effective and economical treatment of the veteran.
(2)
Improvements and structural alterations may be furnished as part of such home health services only as necessary to assure the continuation of treatment for the veteran’s disability or to provide access to the home or to essential lavatory and sanitary facilities. The cost of such improvements and structural alterations (or the amount of reimbursement therefor) under this subsection may not exceed—
(A)
section 1710(a)(1) of this titlesection 1710(a)(2)(C) of this title in the case of medical services furnished under , or for a disability described in —
(i)
in the case of a veteran who first applies for benefits under this paragraph before , $4,100; or
(ii)
in the case of a veteran who first applies for benefits under this paragraph on or after , $6,800; and
(B)
section 1710(a) of this title in the case of medical services furnished under any other provision of —
(i)
in the case of a veteran who first applies for benefits under this paragraph before , $1,200; or
(ii)
in the case of a veteran who first applies for benefits under this paragraph on or after , $2,000.
(3)
The Secretary may furnish home health services to a veteran in any setting in which the veteran is residing. The Secretary may not furnish such services in such a manner as to relieve any other person or entity of a contractual obligation to furnish services to the veteran. When home health services are furnished in a setting other than the veteran’s home, such services may not include any structural improvement or alteration.
(b)
lsection 1134 of this title The Secretary may furnish an invalid lift, or any type of therapeutic or rehabilitative device, as well as other medical equipment and supplies (excluding medicines), if medically indicated, to any veteran who is receiving (1) compensation under section 1114()–(p) of this title (or the comparable rates provided pursuant to ), or (2) pension under chapter 15 of this title by reason of being in need of regular aid and attendance.
(c)
The Secretary may furnish devices for assisting in overcoming the handicap of deafness (including telecaptioning television decoders) to any veteran who is profoundly deaf and is entitled to compensation on account of hearing impairment.
(d)
(1)
In the case of a member of the Armed Forces who, as determined by the Secretary, has a disability permanent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, air, or space service, the Secretary may furnish improvements and structural alterations for such member for such disability or as otherwise described in subsection (a)(2) while such member is hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment for such disability if the Secretary determines that such member is likely to be discharged or released from the Armed Forces for such disability.
(2)
The furnishing of improvements and alterations under paragraph (1) in connection with the furnishing of medical services described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(2) shall be subject to the limitation specified in the applicable subparagraph.

Pub. L. 86–211, § 573 Stat. 435Pub. L. 88–450, § 6(a)78 Stat. 504Pub. L. 90–77, title I, § 10981 Stat. 180Pub. L. 90–493, § 3(a)82 Stat. 809Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(18)96 Stat. 1306Pub. L. 98–528, title I, § 10798 Stat. 2690Pub. L. 99–576, title II, § 202(2)100 Stat. 3254Pub. L. 100–322, title I, § 101(d)102 Stat. 491Pub. L. 102–83105 Stat. 404–406Pub. L. 102–405, title I, § 101(a)106 Stat. 1973Pub. L. 104–262, title I, § 101(d)(6)110 Stat. 3180Pub. L. 105–114, title IV, § 402(b)111 Stat. 2294Pub. L. 110–289, div. B, title VI, § 2601122 Stat. 2858Pub. L. 111–163, title V, § 516(a)124 Stat. 1166Pub. L. 111–275, title X, § 1001(c)(1)124 Stat. 2896Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(a)(24)134 Stat. 3830(Added , , , § 617; amended , (c), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 1717 and amended , §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–2832021—Subsec. (d)(1). substituted “air, or space service” for “or air service”.

Pub. L. 111–2752010—Subsec. (a)(2)(A), (B). substituted “” for “the date of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 111–163 added subpars. (A) and (B) and struck out former subpars. (A) and (B) which read as follows:

section 1710(a)(1) of this titlesection 1710(a)(2)(C) of this title“(A) $4,100 in the case of medical services furnished under , or for a disability described in ; or

section 1710(a) of this title“(B) $1,200 in the case of medical services furnished under any other provision of .”

Pub. L. 110–2892008—Subsec. (d). added subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 105–114, § 402(b)(1)1997—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “treatment of the veteran” for “treatment of the veteran’s disability”.

Pub. L. 105–114, § 402(b)(2)Subsec. (a)(2)(B). , substituted “section 1710(a)” for “section 1710(a)(2)”.

Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(d)(6)(A)1996—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “section 1710(a)” for “section 1712(a)”.

Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(d)(6)(B)(i)section 1710(a)(1) of this titlesection 1710(a)(2)(C) of this titlesection 1712(a) of this titleSubsec. (a)(2)(A). , substituted “, or for a disability described in ” for “paragraph (1) of ”.

Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(d)(6)(B)(ii)Subsec. (a)(2)(B). , substituted “section 1710(a)(2)” for “section 1712”.

Pub. L. 102–4051992—Subsec. (a)(2). substituted “$4,100” for “$2,500” in subpar. (A) and “$1,200” for “$600” in subpar. (B).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)section 617 of this title1991—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (a). , substituted “1712(a)” for “612(a)” in pars. (1) and (2)(A) and “1712” for “612” in par. (2)(B).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing in pars. (1) and (3).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)llSubsec. (b). , substituted “1114()–(p)” for “314()–(p)” and “1134” for “334”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1)Subsec. (c). , (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 100–322, § 101(d)(3)1988—, substituted “Home health services; invalid” for “Invalid” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 100–322, § 101(d)(1)(B)Subsec. (a). , added subsec. (a). Former subsec. (a) redesignated (b).

Pub. L. 100–322, § 101(d)(2)section 612 of this titleSubsec. (a)(3). , transferred subsec. (k) of to subsec. (a) of this section and redesignated it as par. (3).

Pub. L. 100–322, § 101(d)(1)(A)Subsecs. (b), (c). , redesignated subsecs. (a) and (b) as (b) and (c), respectively.

Pub. L. 99–5761986—Subsec. (a)(3) [formerly § 612(k)]. added subsec. (k). See 1988 Amendment note above.

Pub. L. 98–5281984— designated existing provision as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Pub. L. 97–295lsection 334 of this titlel1982— substituted “section 314()–(p) of this title (or the comparable rates provided pursuant to )” for “subsections 314()–(p) (or the comparable rates provided pursuant to section 334) of this title”.

Pub. L. 90–493l1968— substituted “Invalid lifts and other devices” for “Invalid lifts and other devices for pensioners” in section catchline, and inserted provisions authorizing the Administrator to furnish lifts and other devices to any veteran who is receiving compensation under subsections 314()–(p) (or the comparable rates provided pursuant to section 334) of this title.

Pub. L. 90–771967—Subsec. (b). substituted “to any veteran in receipt of pension under chapter 15 of this title based on need of regular aid and attendance” for “to any veteran who is eligible to receive an invalid lift under subsection (a) of this section, or who would be so eligible, but for the fact that he has such a lift”.

Pub. L. 88–4501964— inserted “and other devices” in section catchline, designated existing provisions of section as subsec. (a), and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–405, title I, § 101(b)106 Stat. 1973

section 1717(a)(2) of title 38“The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to a veteran who first applies for benefits under , United States Code, after .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–322section 101(i) of Pub. L. 100–322section 1703 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to furnishing of medical services to veterans who apply for such services after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–77section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective first day of first calendar month which begins more than ten days after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

section 10 of Pub. L. 86–211section 1521 of this titleSection effective , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1959 Amendment note under .

Applicability of Increase in Grant Limits

Pub. L. 111–163, title V, § 516(b)124 Stat. 1167

38 U.S.C. 1717(a)(2)“A veteran who exhausts such veteran’s eligibility for benefits under section 1717(a)(2) of such title [probably means ] before the date of the enactment of this Act [], is not entitled to additional benefits under such section by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section].”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 102–405, title I, § 101(c)106 Stat. 1973

section 1717(a)(2) of title 38“A veteran who exhausts such veteran’s eligibility for benefits under , United States Code, before , is not entitled to additional benefits under such section by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section].”
, , , provided that: