[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E596-E597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             VETERANS HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENTS LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, Abraham Lincoln once said ``To care for 
him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and orphan . . 
.'' Today, we must follow his counsel.
  When veterans joined the military, they were promised ``free'' health 
care for life. There are some who would like to see the commitments 
this Nation made to our veterans just fade away--not to honor the 
promise that this Nation made to them. I do not believe we can allow 
that to happen.

[[Page E597]]

  For that reason, Congressman Jerry Moran and I are introducing the 
Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 1999. This legislation will 
enable us to deliver on the promises our country made to its veterans 
who answered the call to duty.
  The men and women of America's Armed Forces have been faithful in 
their service. They have not asked much--just what they were promised. 
Our Nation pledged to provide these veterans quality health care.
  We have fallen short on that promise. The Veterans Health Care 
Improvement Act of 1999 will make health care for our veterans better 
and more accessible. First, the bill establishes a voluntary Medicare 
subvention demonstration project that allows Medicare to reimburse the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for Medicare health care services 
furnished to certain veterans at VA medical facilities. This will give 
veterans more flexibility in choosing their health care providers.
  The bill directs the administering Secretaries to select up to ten 
demonstration sites in geographically dispersed locations for program 
participation. Of these ten sites, one must be in an area near a base 
closed by the base realignment and closure law and one must be a 
predominantly rural area. None of the demonstration project funds may 
be used to build new buildings or expand existing ones. This 3-year 
program begins on January 1, 2000. The bill also authorizes the 
Secretary of the VA to establish and operate four managed health care 
plans at demonstration sites.
  Tricare, the health care program for all branches of the military 
must be reformed. Many veterans are refused by physicians because 
Tricare is notorious for delinquent reimbursements and because the 
reimbursement rates often fall below those allowed by Medicare. This 
bill takes a big step toward leveling the playing field for our 
veterans.
  The bill directs the Secretary to ensure that health care coverage 
available through the Tricare program is substantially similar to the 
health care coverage available to Federal employees; makes benefits 
portable; minimizes the certification requirements for access to the 
extent possible; and requires that claims be processed and payed in a 
simplified and expedited manner. These changes will begin to eliminate 
the bureaucratic red tape and improve access and payments for 
beneficiaries.
  The bill also allows the Secretary of Defense to increase the 
reimbursement rate for Tricare if it is necessary to ensure quality 
health care for veterans.
  The bill includes a sense of Congress urging the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to ``review their policies and procedures to identify 
areas in which the administration does not currently process claims for 
veterans in a manner consistent with the objectives set forth in the 
national performance review, and to initiate the necessary actions to 
process such claims in such manner and report to Congress on measures 
taken to improve the processing time of claims.''
  In summary, this bill will do much to improve the quality of health 
care for our Nation's veterans. The heart-wrenching film ``Saving 
Private Ryan'' portrayed the enormous dedication and sacrifice our 
veterans endured on behalf of this Nation. As the number of elderly 
veterans continues to increase, it is imperative that we take the 
necessary steps to protect them--and to honor our commitment to them. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting our veterans by improving 
their health care system.