Ed Palmer
06-30-08, 11:07 AM
VA MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT UPDATE 04: Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN-03) working with Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN-08) intend to sponsor the Veterans Travel Equity Act, which will increase the reimbursement rate for veterans traveling to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and make the benefit available to more veterans. The congressman spoke about the bill 16 JUN in Fort Wayne IN. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake increased the mileage reimbursement for veterans in February from 11 cents a mile to 28.5 cents a mile. Veterans traveling 54 miles or more for medical care receive that benefit to compensate for fuel costs and vehicle wear. This bill would increase the rate to 50.5 cents a mile - the same rate federal employees receive for driving their personal vehicles for work. It would also reduce the minimum round trip distance to 30 miles. He said the change is necessary because some veterans are skipping appointments to keep from having to pay for the trip. "I believe especially with gas prices where they are, never should their mileage be an impediment to getting health care," he said. Souder said his bill would also eliminate disability requirements to receive the benefit, as veterans currently must have service-connected disabilities at 30% or higher for mileage reimbursement. The bill would likely bring significant costs, but Souder said he didn't have any estimates. He said there were several similar proposals being floated, so he was confident something would get done to help veterans this year. He expected any plan to get enough votes to override a presidential veto and said the overwhelming support could force the administration to change it without legislation. [Source: Journal Gazette Benjamin Lanka article 17 Jun 08 ++]