Veterans

HVAC Subcommittee Ranking Member Brownley Angry GOP Bill Puts Veterans Healthcare at Risk

Brooks, Frankel, and the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus Discuss VA Services for Women Veterans with VA Secretary David Shulkin

Shaheen Statement on Extension of the Veterans Choice Program
Senator Jeanne Shaheen - (D - NH)
APRIL 20, 2017
“Our veterans deserve nothing less than convenient, quality, accessible health care, yet in New Hampshire, too many veterans are burdened with long travel and even longer wait times,” said Senator Shaheen. “I supported the Veterans Choice Improvement Act to extend the Veterans Choice program while the VA makes urgently needed improvements to ensure our veterans receive the care they need. In New Hampshire, the Choice Card program needs to be streamlined to improve access for veterans seeking appointments and provider reimbursements, which is why I introduced legislation last year to help address the persistent payment delays. I will continue my work in the Senate to improve the Veterans Choice program so that New Hampshire’s veterans can receive quality, timely care closer to home.”
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Moran Introduces Bill to Provide Additional Paid Leave to Disabled Veteran Employees
Senator Jerry Moran- (R - KS)
April 21, 2017
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in recently introducing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Transition Improvement Act (S. 899). The legislation would ensure veterans with a disability rating of 30 percent or higher who are hired by the VA in critical medical positions can access additional paid sick leave during their first year on the job to receive medical care related to their service-connected condition.
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Hoeven-Cosponsored Legislation to Extend Veterans Choice Program Signed Into Law
Senator John Hoeven - (R - ND)
April 19, 2017
The legislation allows the Choice Program to continue until its original funding is fully expended, ensuring veterans can benefit from the $950 million in appropriated funding for the program that would have otherwise gone unused. Further, the bill allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to serve as the primary payer under the Choice Program, alleviating the difficulties providers have faced in receiving payment for services, and improves the sharing of medical records between the VA and community providers, which will reduce wait times for appointments and strengthen care coordination.
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President Signs Heitkamp Bill to Extend, Reform VA Choice Program
Senator Heidi Heitkamp - (D - ND)
April 19, 2017
Heitkamp helped introduce the bill with U.S. Senator Jon Tester of Montana as a compromise to extend the program and address some of the concerns with the program through provisions to improve care coordination and to make VA the primary payer. The bill reduces out-of-pocket costs and confusion for veterans, and improves medical record sharing. The Choice Program was set to expire on August 7.
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Hirono, Moran, Tester Introduce Bill to Provide Disabled Veteran Employees at VA Additional Paid Leave
Senator Mazie K. Hirono - (D - HI)
April 18, 2017
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced S. 899, the bipartisan Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Transition Improvement Act, to ensure veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher who are hired by the VA in critical medical positions can access additional paid sick leave during their first year on the job for the purposes of receiving medical care related to their service-connected condition.
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Flake to Introduce Bill Expanding Veteran Access to Treatment Courts
Senator Jeff Flake - (R - AZ)
April 5, 2017
U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) announced the introduction of the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act, a bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire additional Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists in order to ensure veterans have greater access to effective and tailored treatment. Flake made the announcement during a visit to the Mesa Municipal Court with Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich to observe the court’s veterans docket. During the visit, Flake and Brnovich met with several dedicated VJO specialists who are responsible for connecting veterans to available veterans treatment court services under the VJO program.
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Brown Introduces Legislation to Secure Education Benefits for Veterans, Servicemembers, and Their Families
Senator Sherrod Brown- (D - OH)
April 5, 2017
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) outlined bipartisan legislation today to ensure that veterans, servicemembers, and surviving spouses and children of servicemembers who have died in the line of duty can take full advantage of their education benefits. Brown was joined on the call by Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel to discuss the importance of securing these benefits for veterans.
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