A lawmaker’s proposal that war veterans should be automatically enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Department health system has divided veterans groups over concerns that the legislation would strain an already burdened system and estrange those who did not serve in combat.
Rep. Bill Owens, D-N.Y., said he sponsored HR 1460 to ease the transition of injured personnel to the VA health system and reduce the paperwork associated with processing out of the military.
Some advocacy groups, including the American Legion and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, strongly favor the bill. But others, including the Military Officers Association of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, oppose it.
“It could prove polarizing and send the message to non-deployed veterans that they do not qualify for VA health care,” said Shane Barker, VFW senior legislative associate.
“Automatic enrollment of only combat theater veterans will likely be perceived as a negative decision by noncombat veterans, causing them to view it as a form of health care rationing and the government’s attempt to diminish their contributions of service to their country,” said retired Navy Cmdr. Rene Campos of MOAA.
Adrian Atizado, assistant national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, said automatic enrollment could “squeeze out” an older generation of veterans who have yet to enroll but will need care later in life.
And it could cause a logjam for obtaining services after enrollment, he added.
“We are keenly aware of delays in timely access once enrolled, generally because of insufficient VA resources, capacity or geographic barriers,” he said.
At a hearing on the proposed legislation and other veteran-related bills, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s health panel gave little indication of how they will handle the proposed bill.
The subcommittee would have to approve the bill for it to advance in the legislative process.
Other proposed bills under consideration by the panel include:
• HR 3016, a bill to direct the Defense Department and VA to jointly manage the Federal Recovery Coordination Program, an initiative that assigns a nurse manager or social worker to wounded warriors to guide them through their recovery and rehabilitation process.
• HR 3279, proposing to amend a law allowing VA to provide monetary assistance and services for caregivers to include those helping seriously ill veterans.
Veterans groups unanimously support the latter and generally said they favor the former, emphasizing that the entire Federal Recovery Coordination Program needs better oversight by VA, DoD and Congress.
Robert Jesse, VA’s principal deputy undersecretary for health, said his department has not yet formed an opinion on Owens’ bill.
But VA opposes the effort to direct joint operation of the FRCP, saying the proposed legislation duplicates existing requirements for the two departments to work together.
He added that VA supports expanding comprehensive assistance for family caregivers to include those helping the seriously ill, but VA would need to define the term “serious illness” to determine who would be eligible.
According to VA, the legislation would result in an estimated 870 veterans and service members qualifying for the caregiver stipend and benefits, at a total cost of $45 million the first year and $263.5 million over five years.
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