Denham introduces the VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act with Reps. Kuster, Bost and Crist

Press Release

U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) last week introduced H.R. 5974, the Department of Veterans Affairs Creation of On-Site Treatment Systems Affording Veterans Improvements and Numerous General Safety Enhancements Act (VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act), with Reps. Ann Kuster (D- NH-2), Mike Bost (R-IL-12), and Charlie Crist (D-FL-13), to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement operational changes to save the department millions of dollars each year and improve care for our veterans.

"Those who have worn the cloth of this great nation deserve our utmost care and attention," said Rep. Denham. "This bill will shake loose tangible resources to bring improvements in veterans care across the country."

The VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act requires the VA to install on-site medical waste treatment systems in all facilities, if it will result in a cost-savings within 5 years. On-site sterilization machines compact medical "red bag" waste and destroy microbial life, rendering hazardous bio-waste safe. Otherwise, this infectious waste is loaded into trucks and driven to regional disposal centers -- a process that is dangerous, costly, and inefficient. System wide, this bill will save the VA millions of dollars each year and improve care for our veterans.

"Improving efficiency at the VA means prioritizing resources for where they are needed most -- caring for our veterans," said Rep. Crist. "With this bill we are working together to make government work better and to put our heroes first."

This technology improves crisis-readiness and is safer, more efficient, more cost-effective, and more environmentally friendly than traditional medical waste disposal. Implementing this technology will align the VA with Centers for Disease Control best practices for infection control, and VA hospitals will no longer need to truck millions of pounds of hazardous waste to far-away disposal centers.

Editor's Note: A full copy of the bill text is available here.

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