Bill targets veterans’ heath care

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine, Monday introduced a bill requiring funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system based on the number of enrollees in the system and the consumer price index for hospital and related services starting in fiscal year 2005.

“The VA constantly struggles to provide high-quality, timely health care to this nation’s veterans because of the annual fight over resources elsewhere in government,” said Michaud. “This country needs to follow through on its promise to veterans and our veterans need to know that they will receive the best possible care year in and year out.”

The “Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act of 2003” was introduced by Michaud, ranking member on the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits, with the ranking member of the full committee, Rep. Lane Evans, D-Illinois.

The President’s Task Force To Improve Health Care Delivery For Our Nation’s Veterans recently reported that there is growing disparity in the VA between demand for access and available funding, which must be addressed to ensure quality and timely care.

Michaud’s bill, HR 2318, would address the findings and recommendations of the task force by creating a guaranteed funding stream for veterans’ health care.

Every major veterans’ service organization, including the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, has stated its support for HR 2318.