David Weldon: “for far too long, the veterans of east central Florida have had to travel great distances to receive quality inpatient…”

“for far too long, the veterans of east central Florida have had to travel great distances to receive quality inpatient medical care. This is an intolerable situation which I have worked hard to change. In the Fall of 1998, a new VA clinic will be opened in Brevard County which will help meet the outpatient medical needs of local veterans. This will be the first ever permanent facility to serve area veterans in east central Florida. However, the long drives for hospital stays currently continue. That is why I led the effort in the last Congress to allow the VA to contract with local health care facilities for inpatient care. This year, language I wrote with my colleague Bill McCollum establishing this pilot program was included in H.R. 2158, the fiscal year 1998 VA/ HUD Appropriation Bill. The program was funded at the level of $5 million in the House bill. This language was not included in the Senate version, but the final House-Senate agreement included the provision. This pilot project represents the wave of the future, a new and more efficient way to deliver quality health care to those who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. No longer should the brave men and women who served their country selflessly have to travel long distances for quality care. I am confident that this project will be a great success, and will lead to more widespread contracting efforts in the future.”