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REPUBLICAN PRESS
RELEASE
November 6, 2009
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Bill Would Restrict Veterans’ Health Care Options
Buyer and McKeon Offer Amendments to Protect Veterans and TRICARE
Beneficiaries
Washington, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking
Member Steve Buyer and House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member
Howard P. “Buck” McKeon offered three amendments to the Pelosi healthcare
bill that would protect
 America’s
Veterans and military TRICARE beneficiaries. The healthcare legislation,
which is expected to be voted on in the full House in the coming days
limits veteran’s and service member’s health care choices and places
veterans and military health care unnecessarily at risk by not clearly
excluding military and veterans health care from the requirements of the
bill.
“In addition to being fundamentally opposed to a sweeping government
takeover of health care, I also strongly object to the bill that was
unveiled today because it would limit veterans’ ability to choose a health
care provider,” said Rep. Buyer. “The liberty and freedom upon which our
nation is founded was paid for through the sacrifices of veterans, and I
find it outrageous that the government veterans defended would presume to
dictate where and how they obtain health care. This is not the type of
government veterans have fought and died for.”
“America must remain vigilant in our efforts to provide the necessary
support to our Veterans, military retirees, and current military
personnel,” said Rep. McKeon. “The Democrat healthcare bill that will be
voted on in the coming days creates unnecessary uncertainty for our
Veterans and military families that their healthcare options will be
unfairly limited. Our amendments make certain—in the strongest terms
possible—that our nation’s heroes will continue to have options, while
protecting their rights to maintain their current high-quality options if
they so choose.”
Reps. Buyer and McKeon offered the following three amendments to ensure
that our veterans, servicemembers, and their families are not hurt by the
bill:
· Buyer/McKeon Amendment #001: Would add a new subsection to provide
explicitly that veterans enrolled in the VA health care and TRICARE
beneficiaries may choose additional health insurance through the “Health
Insurance Exchange”, along with care provided by VA or DOD.
The bill reads: “(a) ACCESS TO COVERAGE. – In accordance with this
section, all individuals are eligible to obtain coverage through
enrollment in an Exchange-participating health benefits plan offered
through the Health Insurance Exchange unless such individuals are enrolled
in another qualified health benefits plan or certain other acceptable
coverage.” [page 156, line 11-16].
Under H.R. 3962, VA health care and TRICARE would be deemed "qualified"
coverage. The problem with the language is that it is ambiguous and can be
interpreted to disqualify individuals enrolled in VA health care or
TRICARE from participating in the exchange.
This amendment was accepted at the Energy and Commerce Committee markup,
but the Democratic Leadership failed to include it in H.R. 3962.
· Buyer/McKeon Amendment #002: Would ensure that the authority of the
Secretary of VA and Secretary of DOD could never be challenged or
obstructed by any provision in the bill or by a secretary or commissioner
from another part of government.
As currently written, H.R. 3962 would provide that the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of VA retain sole authority over their
respective health care systems only with respect to Subtitle A, the Health
Insurance Exchange. This was the original Buyer Amendment adopted in
Energy and Commerce Committee. However, it was limited to “Subtitle A”
because of germaneness requirements. The intent was that as the Committee
bills were merged, the language would be revised to encompass the entire
bill.
The section-by-section analysis on the Energy and Commerce Committee
Website states that Section 311 “makes clear that nothing in this act
interferes with the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of
Defense’s existing authorities.”
In fact, this description is incorrect and our amendment would provide
that the bill conform to the website’s assertion.
· Buyer/McKeon Amendment #003: Would amend section 342 of the bill to
allow individuals enrolled in VA health care and TRICARE to be eligible
for affordable tax credits.
Currently, H.R. 3962 defines an “affordable credit eligible individual” as
one who is not enrolled in acceptable coverage – which would exclude
individuals enrolled in VA health care or TRICARE.
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posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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