Roby Highlights Benefits of Veterans Funding Bill

Press Release

U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) today highlighted a bill funding the Department of Veterans Affairs, saying the bill provides critical resources needed to provide veterans healthcare they deserve and ease the claims backlog at the VA.

With the continued backlog of claims at the VA, as well as new revelations of veterans dying while on VA waiting lists, Rep. Roby said Congress must act swiftly to ensure proper resources and accountability at the VA.

"There is no greater duty we have as a nation than to care for our nation's veterans," Rep. Roby said. "Thousands of doctors, nurses, and public servants at the VA work hard to give veteran patients the best health care we can offer. But too often, our system fails those it was created to help. An outrageous backlog of cases at the VA has caused veterans in need of care to wait months for services they deserve. In some instances, veterans have died waiting for health services from the VA.

"That's unacceptable in America, and we need to do something about it.

"That's why I'm pleased that Congress this week will take up an appropriations bill providing critical funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, while also seeking changes to improve service."

The Fiscal Year 2015 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill is scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives Wednesday. The legislation contains more than $158 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $10.3 billion more than Fiscal Year 2014. The legislation:

* Contains $45 billion for VA medical services, including $7.2 billion for mental health services, $133 million for suicide prevention, $229 million for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries, $250 million for rural health services and $7.4 billion for homeless veterans services and job training;
* Directs $344 million toward modernizing the VA electronic health record system and $173 million for updating the paperless claims processing system, both of which are badly needed to end the backlog of claims; and
* Includes provisions enhancing oversight of and accountability within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Rep. Roby said swift passage of this appropriations bill will also lead to the further development of Patient-Centered Community Care, an innovative VA program allowing veterans to access special health care services not offered by their local VA medical centers. Under PCCC, VA medical centers can contract with local, non-VA health care providers for special services such as mental health care, some emergency care, physical therapy and limited newborn care for veteran mothers.

"One way I believe we can greatly improve services for veteran patients is to develop the Patient-Centered Community Care program, which allows the VA to contract with local health providers. Some services that our veterans need aren't always offered at their local VA hospital, or if they are, the waiting list for service might be really long. In these cases, it only makes sense for the VA to contract out services through local providers and get the veteran patients the care they need. Offering better care to veterans while saving taxpayer money is a win-win situation.

"We've asked the VA to document the successes and efficiencies of Patient Centered Community Care so we can make the case for allowing more veterans to take advantage of this innovative program.

"Our state is home to so many veterans who bravely and honorably served our country. We owe it to them to provide them the care we promised, and I'm working every day in Congress to do just that."

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