Shea-Porter Acts on VA Delays, Cosponsors Bipartisan Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act

Press Release

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) announced today that she will cosponsor the Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act, introduced by Congressman Dennis Ross (R-FL), in another effort to address wait times at Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. The legislation requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that veterans receive hospital care or medical services within 30 days of contacting the VA, and to submit a report to Congress on all delays.

"The allegations at the Phoenix VA and six other clinics nationwide are truly shameful," Shea-Porter said. "Congress and the Administration must do everything possible to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. That's why I'm cosponsoring the bipartisan Veterans Timely Access to Care Act. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will also join me in continuing to advocate for increased funding for the VA, so we can meet the sacred obligation we have to our nation's veterans."

The Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that the standard for access to care for a veteran seeking hospital care and medical services from the Department of Veterans Affairs is 30 days from the date the veteran contacts the VA. It also directs the Secretary to periodically review the performance of VA medical facilities in meeting such standard, and it requires quarterly reports from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on the VA's experience with respect to appointment waiting times.

Last month, Shea-Porter introduced legislation to improve health care for rural veterans. The Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act would give the Department of Veterans Affairs the tools it needs to serve veterans living in rural areas. In October 2013, Shea-Porter voted for bipartisan reforms to help reduce the VA's disability claims backlog by:

Speeding up claims by allowing veterans' medical examinations to be done by physicians outside the VA system and encouraging veterans to file fully developed claims.
Strengthening accountability by requiring the VA to regularly track and provide information to the public on claims processing and the performance of VA regional offices.
Expediting claims processing by educating veterans on the quickest route to receive their decision.
Encouraging the VA to look at better ways to process claims in an electronic system.
Taking steps to ensure the VA has the needed information from other agencies to accurately process claims in a timely way.
Reimbursing veterans more quickly by paying as their individual conditions are adjudicated.
The Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act is cosponsored by legislators from Arizona, including Rep. Ed Pastor (AZ-7), Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, (AZ-9), and Rep. Ron Barber (AZ-2).

Source