Veterans Health Care Improvements Act Wins Support

The Veterans Health Care Improvements Act of 2005 (Senate bill S. 1182) received support last week from U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. "We strongly support enactment of this measure and we appreciate your inclusion of provisions to carry out the President's plans for assisting veterans and for assisting the Department to carry out its mission," said Secretary Nicholson.

The Secretary's comments came during a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. A key provision of the bill would enable the VA to spend more money on veterans by repealing a current law that prevents the VA from comparing the costs of providing services.

"That's unwise policy and bad law. By changing this legal requirement we could save millions of dollars which could then be redirected on veterans' health care," said Sen. Larry Craig, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs who introduced the legislation.

The legislation would also eliminate co-payments for hospice care and eliminate co-payments for long-term care for former prisoners of war.

In addition, it would allow the VA to provide hospital care for newborn children born to female veterans, and grant authority to the VA to pay for emergency treatment for veterans when they enter non-VA hospitals.

The bill would also increase funding for those who provide shelter for homeless veterans, and it would allow the VA to provide licensed family counseling sessions for veterans.