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JRtheSTAR
01-18-03, 08:28 AM
Date: January 17, 2003

Re: VA Health Care



The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs announced yesterday that health care enrollment for Category 8 Veterans will be suspended for a period of one year. Category 8 Veterans are those veterans with no service-connected disabilities and with incomes above the geographic income levels. Obviously this is not a good day for Americas Veterans, made all the more difficult knowing that the genesis for this decision is the current inadequate funding for veterans health care.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs made a very tough business decision. While we do not like the fact that all veterans will not be able to receive care in VA Medical Centers, we understand that without proper funding from the US Congress, the Secretary had no choice. Veterans have earned quality, timely access to VA health care, and that is not always the case today.

VA health care is facing enormous challenges today with over 200,000 veterans on waiting lists of 6 months or more for initial appointments. Allowing all veterans to continue to come to VA and not receive timely care is unconscionable and gives veterans a false expectation of care. The Secretary's decision will allow VA to care for the service disabled, specialized care, and indigent veterans.

Also announced was a new program that will allow Category 8 Veterans who are Medicare eligible to join a VA Plus Choice Program that will allow Medicare to pay VA for their treatment. This program will be available later this year. Allowing VA to receive payments from Medicare for veterans health care treatment has long been a VFW legislative priority. This is a step in the right direction and we will continue to pursue expansion of this program.
The enrollment announcement clearly shows the need for proper funding for the VA Health Care system. This is one reason why we of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion, along with numerous veterans and military organizations, have joined together to secure passage of legislation that would guarantee mandatory funding for all enrolled users of the VA health care system. Congress has not lived up to its obligation to care for America's Veterans. We all need to renew our efforts with our elected officials to remind them that enough is enough. Veterans have earned quality, timely, health care and are entitled to it now!

I ask each of you to write and call your members of Congress today to express your outrage that the VA health care system is not properly funded and let them know that you expect them to cosponsor and work for passage of legislation that will guarantee mandatory funding for VA.

Thank you for your continued support.