[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    VETERANS' ACCESS TO EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1998 H.R. 3702

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                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 1998

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, for years veterans who rely on the VA for 
their health care have run into a brick wall when they sought 
reimbursement from VA for emergency health care received from a non-VA 
provider. Even when veterans took the time to contact VA when a medical 
emergency arose and were directed by VA to seek emergency care from the 
closest health care provider, they have been routinely denied 
reimbursement by VA for the cost of the emergency health care they 
needed and received from a non-VA provider.
  The Veterans' Access to Emergency Health Care Act of 1998 will 
provide veterans access to emergency services when and where the need 
arises. It will solve a long-standing problem--reimbursement from VA--
that has bedeviled veterans who needed and received emergency health 
care when they were needed from a non-VA provider.
  The Veterans' Access to Emergency Health Care Act of 1998 will also 
make it possible for the Department of Veterans Affairs to comply with 
the Consumer Bill of Rights, which President Clinton has directed every 
Federal agency that administers or manages health plans to adopt. VA 
has reported that it will largely be able to comply with the Consumer 
Bill of Rights through administrative action, but legislation will be 
required to provide veterans the access to emergency services. 
Currently, only veterans who are on VA property when an emergency 
occurs receive reimbursement from VA for contract emergency care 
furnished by a non-VA provider. VA has limited emergency care 
capabilities and must refer much of its emergent care to other 
providers.
  The Consumer Bill of Rights, developed by a Presidential Advisory 
Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care 
Industry, establishes eight basic rights for consumers. In addition to 
access to emergency services, these rights include: Accurate 
information about health plans; a choice of providers and plans; 
participation in treatment decisions; nondiscrimination; the protection 
of their confidential medical information; and a fair and efficient 
process for complaining about and/or appealing a medical decision; and 
responsibility for one's own health.
  VA has reported it will be able to largely comply with the Consumer 
Bill of Rights through administrative action, but legislation will be 
required to provide veterans the access to emergency services.
  The Veterans' Access to Emergency Health Care Act of 1998 will 
provide veterans access to emergency services when and where the need 
arises. Providing veterans who rely on VA for health care access to 
emergency services when the need arises is long overdue. This 
legislation should be quickly passed by Congress and signed into law by 
the President.

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