Congressman Mike Michaud

FEATURES

Michaud Legislation Directs VA to Create Business Plans for Enhanced Access to Outpatient Care in Maine

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud, Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee, led the floor debate in the House of Representatives on H.R. 5815.  The bill was approved by the House overwhelmingly and now waits action in the Senate. 

H.R. 5815 includes language requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit business plans for enhanced access to outpatient care for primary care, mental health care, and specialty care in the areas of Lewiston-Auburn, Houlton and Dover-Foxcroft.  These plans must be submitted to both the House and Senate Veterans Affairs’ Committees no more than 180 days after this bill becomes law.

“Veterans in Maine often drive hours to receive the care that they have earned and deserve,” said Congressman Michaud.  “It is important that we extend VA’s presence in the community to ensure that veterans have easy access to the high quality health care services they need.  This bill takes a major step forward in that direction.”

H.R. 5815 authorizes funding for the construction, renovation, improvement or leasing of over two dozen major medical facilities by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for fiscal year 2006 and 2007.  The bill authorizes projects in Charleston, South Carolina and Denver, Colorado.  It also extends the authorization for certain medical facility construction projects previously authorized by Capital Asset Realignment Initiative (CARES).  These locations include sites in Alaska, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Nevada, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Maryland, Michigan, and Massachusetts.  H.R. 5815 also establishes a career position responsible for Department-wide construction and facilities management within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“If this health care system is to maintain its position at the forefront of American medicine, then we must make prudent investments in the infrastructure that enables this care,” said Congressman Michaud on the House floor.  “We must modernize those facilities that are antiquated; we must build new facilities in areas that are seeing increasing numbers of veterans; and we must take steps to ensure that underserved areas do not remain underserved for long.”

H.R. 5815 also takes steps forward to reestablish VA’s presence in the Gulf Region ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.  The bill authorizes a major medical facility project in Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi.  It also authorizes the design, construction, and operation of major medical facility project in New Orleans, Louisiana.

9/13/2006 2:29:34 PM