Political Quotes

“today I am introducing a bill, H.R. 3808, that would provide VA flexibility in meeting the workforce needs of its health care system. The bill would also give the Secretary the necessary flexibility to meet his responsibilities in providing medical care under national health care reform. Mr. Speaker, the Administration's Health Security Act, H.R. 3600, reflects a serious, meaningful effort to address the needs of our Nation's veterans. The act would require that VA health care facilities establish and operate health plans as part of national health care reform, and that VA health plans would be enrollment options for veterans. H.R. 3600 would have the effect of reforming VA's health care eligibility by entitling its core beneficiaries to the comprehensive benefits provided all Americans under the act. Those core VA beneficiaries--primarily lower-income and service-connected veterans-- who enroll with a VA plan would receive needed services without cost-sharing obligations. Under current law, most of these veterans are not now eligible for routine ambulatory care. Entitling enrollees to a benefits package that generously covers preventive and primary care is among the many aspects of the act which will require substantial changes in the VA health care system. VA must change its delivery capacity, organizational structure, accounting and other systems, and even its culture, to operate effectively within a framework of managed competition.”