Helping Our Rural Veterans Receive Health Care

Statement

Ahead of his visit to Lewiston's Veterans Center, Maine's Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, introduced the Helping Our Rural Veterans Receive Health Care Act. Congressman Bruce Poliquin released the following statement:

"Maine is home to many Veterans who answered the ultimate call of duty to protect our freedoms and liberties.

"As Maine's Second District Congressman, and a member of the Veterans Military Caucus, I have been working to help ensure our Veterans receive the health care and benefits they were promised, earned and deserve.

"40 percent of the 22 million Veterans in the United States live in rural areas. To help our rural Veterans, in 2011 with bipartisan support, Congress created a pilot program known as project ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home). This program selected 5 hospitals in rural areas across the Country to enter into contracts with the VA so that our Veterans could receive health care closer to home. This program has proven to be a major success.

"That's why I introduced the Helping Our Rural Veterans Receive Health Care Act to help make the ARCH program permanent and expand the program to more rural hospitals across the Country. By allowing our rural hospitals to enter into pre-negotiated contracts with the VA, more of our rural Veterans, and their families, will receive the benefits and health care they truly deserve.

"With so many VA programs under scrutiny for mismanagement, it's important that we expand the programs that are successful and common sense.

"As Maine's Second District Congressman, I will continue to support bills that will help ensure our Veterans, and their families, receive the health care and benefits they were promised, earned and deserve."

Source