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VETERANS MEASURE WOULD BOOST MILEAGE PAYMENTS --

It would raise the mileage reimbursement rate from 11 cents

per mile to 48.5 cents per mile. The VA has not increased

the mileage rate since 1978.

 

 

Story here... http://www.chieftain.
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Story below:

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Veterans measure would boost mileage payments

By PETER ROPER
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Giving veterans a big increase in their mileage reimbursement when they have to travel to Veterans Administration medical centers is a key part of legislation being sponsored by Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.

The bill - the Rural Healthcare Improvement Act of 2007 - has 38 co-sponsors and is heading for full approval by the full House Veterans Affairs Committee, Salazar said this week.

One important feature is it would raise the mileage reimbursement rate from 11 cents per mile to 48.5 cents per mile.

The VA has not increased the mileage rate since 1978.

National veterans groups testified in support Thursday during a hearing before the House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee.

Salazar said the legislation has broad bipartisan support.

"Some of our veterans have to drive long distances to get VA care and it's time we raise that reimbursement rate, which has been stuck at 11 cents per mile since 1978," Salazar said in a telephone press conference this week.

Larry Mitchell, from South Fork and an Air Force veteran of the Gulf War, took part in the press conference and said he lives 248 miles from the Denver VA medical center and 250 miles from the Albuquerque medical center.

"Any time I have to travel to Denver to the VA, it's an overnight trip that's going to cost me at least $150 just for meals and a motel," he said. VA reimbursement currently amounts to about $50 for the round trip, he said.

Other features of the Salazar bill include:

Establishing a $3 million per year grant program to VA's Office of Rural Health to provide travel assistance to veterans who can't drive themselves to medical care.

Creating five "academic centers of excellence" across the nation to research and develop better methods for providing services to veterans in rural areas.

Requiring the VA to report back to Congress each year on the status of services for rural veterans.

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Larry Scott  --