Rep. Young Cosponsors Healthy Vets Act

Press Release

REP. YOUNG COSPONSORS HEALTHY VETS ACT

"Unless you live in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Kenai, as a veteran you have no access to VA facilities. That is inexcusable!" -Rep. Young

Alaskan Congressman Don Young is pleased to announce he has signed on to become a cosponsor of H.R. 315, Help Establish Access to Local Timely Healthcare for Your Vets (HEALTHY Vets) Act. This bill would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to contract out veterans' medical care to non-Department facilities when Department facilities are geographically inaccessible, on a case-by-case basis.

"I am very happy to be a part of this legislation," said Rep. Young. "In a vast state like Alaska, this legislation is of the utmost importance. Veterans should not have to be limited in what medical facilities they may access. This legislation allows them to seek assistance without having to travel great distances, possibly making their medical situation worse, to receive even the most basic care. Unless you live in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Kenai, as a veteran you have no access to VA facilities. That is inexcusable! And as we've seen at the Congressional level, those with no knowledge about the way of life here in Alaska, choose wildlife over human life, and hinder our abilities to put in the road systems that help people get access to necessities like medical treatment. Our veterans deserve to be taken care of and I will always do everything in my power to make sure they are."

H.R. 315 defines a person as living in a geographically inaccessible area if they meet any of the following criteria:

Their residence is in a county with a population density of less than 7.0 people per square mile and is more than 75 miles from the nearest Department health care facility.

Their residence is in a county with a population density of more than 7.0 and less than 8.0 people per square mile and is more than 100 miles from the nearest Department health care facility.

Their residence is in a county with a population density of more than 8.0 and less than 9.0 people per square mile and is more than 125 miles from the nearest Department health care facility.

Their residence is more than 150 miles from the nearest Department health care facility.

The only boroughs with population densities more than 7.0 people per square mile are Anchorage (133.3), Fairbanks (10.6), Juneau (10.3) and Ketchikan (11.3).

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