BERGMAN, MCMORRIS RODGERS, PAPPAS, INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO EXPAND VETERANS' EMERGENCY CARE COVERAGE

Statement

Reps. Jack Bergman (MI-01), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), and Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the Removing Extraneous Loopholes Insuring Every Veteran Emergency (RELIEVE) Act. This bipartisan legislation would eliminate a glaring gap in Veteran emergency care insurance coverage by expanding emergency coverage under Care in the Community for Veterans.

"The RELIEVE Act is one of many needed bridges to ensure new Veterans don't fall into the abyss between the DOD and VA's care coverage," said Bergman. "With this bill we'll seal away a dangerous loophole that could impose crippling emergency care debt on a recently separated servicemember."
"Earlier this year, a veteran contacted my office because her medical bills were piling up after needing emergency care. No matter how hard she tried, the VA refused to pay her expenses because of a coverage loophole made worse by the department's inability to efficiently schedule appointments," said Rodgers. "The VA's systematic failure to see new patients in a timely fashion is putting undue financial stress on veterans at an already difficult time. We must do better, which is why I'm leading this legislation to ensure we roll out the red carpet for veterans and ensure their access to the best health care our country has to offer."

Currently, a Veteran must have received health services at a VA facility within the last 24 months in order to be covered under Care in the Community. This protocol fails to account for the reality that it often takes more than a month for a Veteran to complete their first appointment -- a problem the pandemic has made worse with ongoing staff shortages and reduced hours -- resulting in a critical gap in insurance coverage.

"It is unacceptable that veterans have to jump through so many hoops to have their health care covered by the VA, especially in the case of an emergency," said Pappas. "This bipartisan legislation will cut the red tape veterans recently enrolled in VA health care face and ensure they can receive the reimbursements they are due. No veteran should ever think twice about seeking the care they need during a medical emergency, and no veteran should be faced with costly medical bills due or bureaucratic challenges for receiving that care. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this important bipartisan legislation."

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