MEASURES FOCUS ON IMPROVING VETERANS HEATH CARE

Washington, May 23, 2007 - "These measures represent small, but important, steps in meeting our obligations to those who defended our freedoms," said Rep. Cliff Stearns, a senior members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. "Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are the signature wounds of the Global War on Terror, and it is imperative to enhance the treatments for these injuries."

The House today approved H.R. 2199, the Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act.  Explained Stearns, "This bill improves screening and tracking of patients with symptoms of traumatic brain injury and requires the VA Secretary to submit a report on the number of veterans screened, prevalence of TBI symptoms, and recommendations for improving care.   Another provision is the establishment of TBI centers for research, education, and clinical activities, and authorizes appropriations to the VA for the centers in the amount of $10 million for FY 2008 and $20 million for each fiscal year 2009 through 2011."

The House also approved H.R. 612, the Returning Servicemember VA Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007.  Said Stearns, "I have long advocated eliminating the dreadful loophole that has in essence denied healthcare insurance to many returning veterans.  As a matter of fact, I introduced similar legislation years ago to address this very problem.  This bill extends from two years to five years the eligibility period for veterans who served in combat during or after the Persian Gulf War to receive hospital care, medical services, or nursing home care provided by the VA."

In addition, H.R. 1470, the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act, passed in the House.  Many returning veterans experience varying degrees of injury to their backs and require chiropractic treatment," added Stearns.  This measure would expand chiropractic services to all VA medical centers by 2011.  Currently, this service is only available at about 30% of the VA medical centers in the country."