House Veterans' Affairs Committee Approves Veterans' Health Care Bills

Main Category: Veterans / Ex-Servicemen
Also Included In: Public Health;  Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 18 Jul 2008 - 6:00 PST

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The House Veterans' Affairs Committee on Wednesday approved several bills related to health care services for veterans, CQ HealthBeat reports. One of the bills (HR 1527), sponsored by Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), would establish a three-year pilot program that would allow "highly rural" veterans enrolled in four of the Department of Veterans Affairs' 21 health care networks to receive health services through outside providers. The bill defines highly rural as veterans seeking primary care who live more than 60 miles from the nearest veterans' facility; veterans seeking acute hospital care who live more than 120 miles from a facility; and those seeking tertiary care who live more than 240 miles from a facility (Lubbes, CQ HealthBeat, 7/16). The bill also would allow veterans to access care at other facilities if VA determines that travel would be difficult for veterans or is "not in the best interest of the veteran" (Povich, CongressDaily, 7/17).

Another bill (HR 6445) approved by voice vote Wednesday would prohibit hospitals and nursing homes from requiring copayments from catastrophically disabled veterans. As altered by a substitute amendment, the bill incorporates the provisions of HR 6439, which would extend mental health benefits to family members of veterans who seek non-service related treatment; HR 6122, which would require VA to develop a comprehensive pain management plan by October; HR 6366, which would authorize seven new regional VA health care billing centers; and HR 6114, which would allow VA to conduct HIV tests without signed consent.

In addition, the panel approved a bill (HR 2192) that would require the Veterans Health Administration to establish an ombudsman to help veterans navigate the VA health care system (CQ HealthBeat, 7/16).

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