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Scalise Introduces Veterans Healthcare Bill

September 19, 2008

Washington, DC -- Congressman Scalise today introduced H.R. 6945, the Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery Act, or the RECOVER Act. This legislation will provide for key healthcare services that veterans are lacking access to because of the New Orleans VA hospital’s closure. Specifically, H.R. 6945 will do the following:

• If a VA hospital closes due to a federally declared disaster, and remains closed for at least six months, the VA must seek out contracts with non-VA providers in the disaster area to provide care.
• Medical services to be provided would include non-emergency hospital care and inpatient care. This is intended to prevent veterans from having to travel long distances to another VA hospital and having to face long waits for scheduled surgeries.
• Veterans in Southeast Louisiana who are normally eligible for VA care would be eligible under this bill, along with veterans where a VA hospital closes because of a disaster in the future.
• The bill allows veterans to continue receiving care within the VA system if they choose.
• This option will be for veterans living within a 150 mile radius of the closed VA hospital.

As a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Congressman Scalise has made it a priority to ensure that veterans have access to quality healthcare. One of his main concerns is the closure of the New Orleans VA Medical Center after Hurricane Katrina.

In Congress, Congressman Scalise has stressed the importance of providing quality inpatient and outpatient care for veterans in Southeast Louisiana while we wait for the new VA hospital to open. The VA made a commitment to open a new hospital by 2013, but Congressman Scalise is concerned about the status of veterans’ healthcare in the interim. To ensure that veterans get proper healthcare, Congressman Scalise has introduced the RECOVER Act.

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309