Delahunt Applauds New Law To Strengthen Veterans’ Health Services

05/06/2010

U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt today applauded President Obama for signing the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act into law.

“It is our duty to ensure that those who serve our country in the Armed Forces have access to the best care available,” Delahunt said.  “The law signed by the President this week will help address the changing needs of our veterans and their families by helping meet the hardships and sacrifices they face as they return home from Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The new law will provide for counseling and mental health services, respite care for family and other caregivers of all veterans, and health care and a stipend for caregivers living with severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. The rate of the stipend will set by the Veterans Administration and will be based on the services provided and the minimum rate for caregivers in the private sector.

This funding will go a long way to help to meet the many hardships and sacrifices that come from the lengthy recovery and rehabilitation for veterans and their family’s as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In fact, the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors recently found that 33 percent of active duty, 22 percent of reserve component, and 37 percent of retired/separated service members report that a family member or close friend relocated for extended periods of time to be with them while they were in the hospital. The Commission also found that 21 percent of active duty, 15 percent of reserve component, and 24 percent of retired/ separated service members say friends or family gave up a job to be with them or act as their caregiver.

Specifically the law will also:

  • Provide expanded care for female veterans’ by conduct a study of barriers to women veterans seeking health care; educate and train mental health professionals caring for veterans with sexual trauma; and establish a child care pilot program for women receiving regular and intensive mental health care
  • Expand access to care for veterans in rural areas by expanding transportation for veterans to local VA hospitals and clinics through VA grants to local Veterans Service Organizations.
  • The VA with resources to learn more about the tragically high suicide rate among veterans.
  • Provides access to counseling and other mental health centers to any member of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves, who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom but who are no longer on active duty)
  • Requires the VA to conduct a veterans’ suicide study.
  • In another move to improve veterans health benefits, the VA today updated its online application process, making it easier for veterans to apply for these benefits.


Veterans may complete or download the 10-10EZ form at the VA health eligibility website at https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/. Veterans may also visit the VA health eligibility website at www.va.gov/healtheligibility.