“These men and women already face great difficulties as a result of incapacitating injuries they sustained while serving their country,” Sablan said. “It is poor repayment to put them under financial strain just to get treated. Our veterans deserve more. They are the backbone of what keeps us safe, and it is important to care for them.”
Reintroduced in the 111th Congress by Rep. Deborah Halvorson, D-Il., the bill, H.R. 1335, will prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs from charging catastrophically disabled veterans for medical services the Department provides.
The legislation will also mandate the creation of up to seven consolidated patient accounting centers to track the VA’s finances.
In addition, the bill will direct the VA secretary to form and carry out a pain management program for veterans under VA medical care, as well as abolish a requirement for written, informed consent for human immunodeficiency virus testing.
The current regulations state that if a veteran is receiving care unrelated to their service, he or she can obtain counseling services for family members on the condition that it is necessary for the veteran’s discharge from a hospital.
The bill will end this requirement.
Other House Democrats joining Sablan as co-sponsors of the bill are Bob Filner (CA), Madeleine Bordallo (GU), Mike Ross (AR), Marcy Kaptur (OH), Travis Childers (MS), Tim Walz (MN), Glenn Nye (VA), Gerry Connolly (VA), Ben Ray Luján (NM), Bill Delahunt (MA), Pedro Pierluisi (PR), Jared Polis (CO), Martin Heinrich (NM) and Mary Jo Kilroy (OH).
Republicans Steve LaTourette (OH) and Larry Kissell (NC) are also co-sponsors.
