Scalise’s Veterans Health Care Bill Gets Thursday Hearing

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise will be testifying at a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday, March 25, to present his bill, H.R. 1075, which will provide veterans with health care access following a disaster.

Hearing Schedule:

House Veterans Affairs Committee

Thursday, March 25

10 AM

334 Cannon House Office Building

“Our veterans, who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy, should not have to travel to other states just to get basic care. In the aftermath of a disaster, the last thing our veterans and their families should have to worry about is where to seek their health care needs,” Scalise said. “Following Hurricane Katrina and the closure of the New Orleans VA Hospital, veterans in our region experienced long wait periods and had to travel long distance to seek care at other VA facilities. My bill will eliminate these burdens. I will continue working to speed up construction of the new VA Hospital in New Orleans so our veterans can once again have access to first-class care at a VA hospital that is close to home. It is always an honor to help our nation’s veterans who sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.”

Scalise’s legislation, the Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery (RECOVER) Act, H.R. 1075 would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish at least one contract with a non-VA hospital to provide healthcare services to veterans following a disaster. The legislation ensures that veterans living in a disaster affected region will continue to have access to vital healthcare services.

The RECOVER Act will do the following:

If a VA Hospital closes due to a federally declared disaster (as declared by the President), and will be closed for at least six months (180 days), the VA shall seek out contracts with non-VA providers in the disaster area to provide care
The care will be for veterans living within a 150 mile radius of the closed VA hospital
Medical services include surgery, inpatient procedures and hospital stays. This is intended to prevent veterans from having to travel long distances to a VA facility and having to face long waits for scheduled surgeries
Veterans in Southeast Louisiana who are normally eligible for VA care would be eligible for this option
Allows veterans to stay in the VA system if they choose

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309