Grants to states for construction of state home facilities--VA. Interim regulation.

This revision of a regulation changes from 2 1/2 to 4 beds per thousand veteran population the maximum number of beds which may be necessary based on sufficient justification to provide adequate nursing home care to veterans residing in each State. This regulation implements section 5034(1), title 38, United States Code as amended by Pub. L. 96-330 which now requires the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to prescribe the number of beds required. Prior to enactment of Pub. L. 96-330, the number of beds was prescribed by law. This revision also implements section 5035(b)(4) which provides that an application for Federal assistance for construction of State home facilities shall not result in more than the number of nursing home beds prescribed by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs. It is anticipated that this change will meet the needs of smaller States which were hindered in their plans for construction of additional nursing home beds by the 2 1/2 bed limitation.