Assemblyman Health Flora, R-Ripon, recently announced that his bill, AB 550, passed the State Assembly with unanimous bipartisan support. AB 550 establishes the Medical Foster Home (MFH) pilot program, allowing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) to establish medical foster homes in private homes for eligible veterans.

“California’s families are ready and willing to open their homes to veterans in need,” said Flora. “AB 550 will give veterans who may not have the option of living at home or with family the opportunity to live in a home setting rather than that of an institution.”

In January of this year, CBS News aired a special segment detailing the type of program that AB 550 hopes to create in California.

MFHs are a model of home-based care which can provide assisted living care for Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA’s) Home Based Primary Care program eligible veterans who are often older and medically frail. Utilizing an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, aides and others provided by the VHA, these homes care for up to a maximum of three eligible veterans in a private home setting.

The integrity of the MFH and the safety of the participants will be upheld through the strict oversight of the USDVA and the jurisdiction of the California State Auditor.

AB 550 has passed the Assembly and is currently awaiting referral to a Senate Committee. If enacted, this bill would take effect no sooner than June 1, 2020. For additional information regarding AB 550 visit Leginfo.ca.gov.

AB 550 is supported by groups like AARP, American GI Forum of California, American Legion, and AMVETS.

Assemblyman Heath Flora represents the 12th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Denair, Empire, Escalon, Farmington, Hickman, Hughson, Keyes, Lathrop, Linden, Lockeford, Manteca, Modesto, Oakdale, Ripon, Riverbank, Salida, Turlock, Victor, and Waterford.