[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 62 (Monday, May 9, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2782-S2783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BEGICH (for himself, Mr. Grassley, and Mr. Tester):
  S. 914. 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 colleagues, Senator Grassley of Iowa and Senator Tester 
of Montana, 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's, VHA, Telemedicine program as 
one form of treatment. In Alaska, as of March 2010, there were 226 
veterans receiving this service. Just over a 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

[[Page S2783]]

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 America. 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 usingtelemedicine, 
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 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 villages and communities 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. I appreciate my 
distinguished colleagues on the committee.
  This is a bipartisan bill to address an issue with no partisan 
connection. I strongly encourage my colleagues to join Senators 
Grassley, Tester, and me in cosponsoring this legislation, and I urge 
expeditious consideration of the legislation to address a growing need 
for our rural veterans.
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