[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S3363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BEGICH (for himself and Mr. Grassley):
  S. 3325. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize 
the waiver of the collection of copayments for telehealth and 
telemedicine visits of veterans, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce legislation to 
amend title 38, related to this Nation's obligation to provide benefits 
to our veterans. Specifically, the bill I introduce today with my 
distinguished colleague, Senator Grassley of Iowa will waive collection 
of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits for veterans.
  More than 42,000 veterans are receiving care in their homes, enrolled 
in the Veterans Health Administration, VHA, Telemedicine program as one 
form of treatment. In Alaska, as of March 2010, there were 226 veterans 
receiving this service. Just over 100 of those live in rural Alaska.
  Home Telehealth programs provide needed care for the 2-3 percent of 
veterans who account for 30 percent or more of agency resources. These 
men and women are frequent clinic attendees and often require urgent 
hospital admissions. VHA programs have demonstrated reduced hospital 
admissions and clinic and emergency room visits, and contribute to an 
improved quality of life for our veterans.
  For no group of veterans is this service more important than for 
those who live in rural and remote Alaska. Telemedicine has become an 
increasingly integral component in addressing the needs of veterans 
residing in rural and remote areas, and is critical to ensuring they 
have proper access to health care, especially in rural areas.
  While the VHA is saving taxpayers money by using telemedicine, 
currently all telemedicine visits require veterans receiving these 
treatments to make copayments. My legislation would implement a simple 
fix. It would waive the required copayments--sometimes up to $50.00 per 
visit--to lessen the burden on our veterans, who have sacrificed in 
service to our great Nation. I believe that waiving these fees may 
encourage more veterans to take advantage of VHA's telehealth programs, 
which can be a godsend for rural veterans with few other viable 
options.
  For rural veterans in Alaska, who have to travel by small float 
planes or boats or even snow machines to get to the nearest clinic for 
monitoring of their diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic 
conditions, Congress can go a long way in repaying this Nation's debt 
to our veterans by passing this legislation.
  The VHA plans to expand Home Telehealth for weight management, 
substance abuse, mild traumatic brain injury, dementia, and palliative 
care, as well as enabling veterans to use mobile devices to access 
care. I would hate to see these vital services go unused by veterans 
living in remote Alaskan villages because of the cost of copayments. 
But, this is not primarily about saving veterans money. This is about 
the Federal Government doing what is good for our veterans. The 
monetary benefits for veterans are a plus.
  Basically, this legislation will amend title 38 to authorize the 
waiver of the collection of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine 
visits of veterans by giving the Secretary the authority to do so.
  In closing, I must say it is an honor for me to serve as a member of 
the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. I feel very privileged to be 
involved with policy formation that helps our veterans, and indeed to 
be at the same table as the distinguished chairman of the committee, a 
veteran of World War II himself, Senator Daniel Akaka, who throughout 
his service in Congress has been a true advocate for our veterans. I 
appreciate the guidance he has provided me, and the assistance his 
staff has provided mine in preparation of this legislation.
  This is a bipartisan bill to address an issue with no partisan 
connection. I strongly encourage my colleagues to join Senator Grassley 
and me in co-sponsoring this legislation, and I urge expeditious 
consideration of the legislation to address a growing need for our 
rural veterans.

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