New Jersey-2014-ACR253-Introduced

A Concurrent Resolution urging the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress of the United States to allow veterans to receive medical care in non-VA facilities.

Whereas, Veterans of our Armed Forces have made great sacrifices to keep the United States and its citizens safe and to protect our freedom; and

Whereas, Many of these veterans suffer debilitating and lifelong injuries as a result of their service to this country; and

Whereas, This country is indebted to these men and women and should ensure that they receive appropriate attention and care for their medical issues; and

Whereas, Despite the service these men and women have provided to this country, as a nation, we have not ensured that these veterans are able to receive all the benefits to which they are entitled; and

Whereas, Although hospitals and medical facilities exist specifically for the care and treatment of our veterans, there have been problems with veterans receiving adequate care and treatment, as well as being taken care of in a timely manner, at these VA facilities; and

Whereas, While veterans across the United States have been affected by the ongoing problems at VA facilities, many veterans residing in New Jersey are especially burdened by these problems as there are no veterans' health care facilities in southern New Jersey, and therefore these veterans must travel to Delaware, Pennsylvania or northern New Jersey to address their medical needs; and

Whereas, In some instances, the travel these veterans must undertake simply to receive medical care is in excess of 100 miles round-trip and more than five hours of travel time, not including time spent waiting for an appointment with a doctor; and

Whereas, The extraordinary distances these veterans must travel for medical treatment, particularly for South Jersey veterans seeking medical treatment in Philadelphia, Wilmington or East Orange, may necessitate veterans having to carpool with other veterans, or take public transit, or a senior bus service, if available, resulting in journeys that can last an entire day and making the process of receiving medical treatment frustrating and exhausting for these veterans; and

Whereas, This situation is unfair to these New Jersey veterans who have served their country with distinction and deserve to have closer, more accessible health care; and

Whereas, In 2014, the United States Congress passed the Veterans, Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 that provides certain veterans with the opportunity to seek medical treatment at non-VA hospitals; and

Whereas, This provision is temporary, set to expire three years after enactment, or when the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has exhausted all moneys in the Veterans Choice Fund, whichever occurs earlier; and

Whereas, Bills have been introduced in Congress, S.374 and H.R.941, that would extend veterans' right to seek medical treatment at non-VA facilities, and it is of the utmost importance that one of these bills, or another comparable bill, is passed that will continue to provide veterans with the right to seek medical care at non-VA facilities; and

Whereas, The federal Department of Veterans Affairs, whether or not additional legislation is passed, should update its policies on medical care for veterans so that veterans may receive medical care at non-VA facilities; and

Whereas, The department should consider the recommendations of ACR-177 and SCR-142, of the 2012-2013 legislative session, including the recommendation for a pilot program providing veterans in South Jersey with greater accessibility to local medical centers, including Cape May Regional Medical Center, the Virtua System, Atlanticare, Shore Memorial Hospital, Inspira Health Network, the Meridian Health Care System, the Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation and Deborah Heart and Lung Center, examples of many health care facilities interested in participating in such a program; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and appropriate for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to urge the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress to permit veterans to seek medical care and treatment in non-VA hospitals and facilities and to establish a pilot program in South Jersey wherein veterans may receive medical care at designated non-VA facilities; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and the Congress of the United States to permit veterans to seek and receive medical care and treatment at non-VA hospitals and facilities, and to establish a pilot program in South Jersey wherein veterans may receive medical care at designated non-VA facilities.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the majority leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress to permit veterans to seek and receive medical treatment at non-VA hospitals and facilities, and to establish a pilot program in South Jersey wherein veterans may receive medical care at designated non-VA facilities. For some veterans, the distance to a VA medical facility creates a substantial impediment to obtaining medical treatment. For many veterans in southern New Jersey, who must either travel out of state or up to northern New Jersey, the distance to a VA facility is particularly burdensome.

Moreover, VA facilities have been plagued with problems in recent times, with many veterans not receiving adequate care or care in a timely manner. In 2014, Congress passed a law to remedy this problem by allowing veterans to obtain treatment at non-VA facilities, but this provision was temporary.

This resolution urges that the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress continue to permit veterans to obtain medical treatment at non-VA facilities.