House Veterans Affairs' Subcommittees Approve Health Care Bills

Main Category: Veterans / Ex-Servicemen
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice;  Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 20 Mar 2007 - 19:00 PDT

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The House Veterans' Affairs subcommittees on Health and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs separately approved measures on Tuesday designed to improve health care for veterans, CQ Today reports. The disability subcommittee approved a measure (HR 797) that would expand benefits for veterans who have vision loss. Under current policy, disability compensation is provided for veterans who are blind in one eye, and it increases only if the patient goes completely blind in the other eye. No compensation is provided if veterans are visually impaired in the second eye. The bill would offer additional benefits for veterans who are beginning to lose sight in their second eye, rather than waiting until their vision is gone altogether. The panel also approved a bill (HR 1284) that would authorize an annual cost-of-living increase for veterans with disabilities. The health subcommittee on Tuesday approved a measure (HR 612) that would extend from two years to five years the period during which veterans are eligible to receive hospital care, medical services or nursing home care from the VA. The bill would apply to veterans who served during or after the Gulf War. The bill is intended to address mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as mild brain injuries, which might not become immediately evident to veterans. The panel also approved a measure (HR 327) to create a suicide-prevention program for veterans that would involve screening, staff training, and 24-hour mental health care and outreach (Kimitch, CQ Today, 3/13).

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