NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The comprehensive Veterans Millennium Health Care Act, H.R. 2116, was approved by the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Thursday, clearing the way for full House action.

Committee Chairman Bob Stump (R-AZ) said he and the House leadership would work together to bring H.R. 2116 to the floor under suspension as soon as possible.  Both Stump and Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL), the Ranking Democratic Member, praised the bipartisan work that went into H.R. 2116.  Stump called it a "far-reaching measure that will take veterans health care into the 21^st century."

Lane Evans, the Democratic leader of the Veterans Affairs Committee, applauded the bipartisan effort.  "I have proudly sponsored legislation to allow VA to reimburse veterans for their emergency care treatment in this and the last Congress.   The Veterans Millennium Health Care Act will address this long-standing need. It also clarifies and enhances access to VA long-term care for veterans with significant service-connected disorders and establishes a chiropractic service in VA."

At the request of Evans, concerned about care for chronically mentally ill veterans and others with expensive chronic conditions, the bill also contains a "report and wait" requirement for closure of certain inpatient beds.  Evans stated, "Without adequate planning to meet veterans health care needs in outpatient or community settings, some types of care appear to be falling through the cracks.  This is an attempt to make VA consider how it will continue to manage care for these vulnerable veterans if it doesn't take place in a bed."

H.R. 2116 is the major veterans health care reform package promised earlier this year by Health Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-FL).

"This bill tackles some of the most pressing issues facing VA, and provides a blueprint to help position VA for the future," Stearns said. "I think it is appropriately titled the Veterans Millennium Health Care Act."

The reported bill addresses veterans concerns about the availability of VA long-term care, improving access through facility realignment, and eligibility enhancement for military retirees and veterans injured in combat.

One provision of H.R. 2116 would require the VA to maintain long-term care programs and increase both home and community-based long-term care and respite care.  The VA also would be required to provide long-term care for 50 percent service-connected veterans, and veterans needing care for a specific service-related condition.  Another provision would require other veterans receiving long-term care to make co-payments, based on the ability to pay. The revenues from co-payments would support expanded long-term care benefits.

H.R. 2116 also would set conditions under which the VA could close an obsolete, inefficient hospital and re-invest savings in new outpatient clinics and other improved services for the veterans affected.

The eligibility provisions include specific authority for priority VA care of veterans who were awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat, and authority for VA care of TRICARE-eligible military retirees not otherwise eligible for priority VA care. Under this provision, DOD would reimburse VA for such care at rates to be negotiated by the Departments.

Another measure authorizes VA to establish and make payments for emergency care of service-connected and low-income veterans who have no health insurance or other medical coverage and rely on VA care.

Other program improvements under H.R. 2116 would include extending VA authority to make grants to homeless veterans, and reforming criteria for awarding grants for construction and remodeling of State veterans homes.