On the recordApril 30, 2014
I listened to my good friend from Texas. I am troubled here. Why would we force veterans who are entitled to veterans' health and have a primary physician that meets their needs say, sorry, you don't get it in this case, go out on your own nickel, go out and find a new doctor? We are not talking about prescribing it. We are not talking about using it on Federal facilities. We are talking about giving access to information and having that conversation. I dare say there is no other medical condition, if it were polio or cancer, that you would say: nope, go someplace else. Go on your own dime. Find somebody--build a relationship with someone who doesn't know your history, who hasn't seen you regularly. You are out of here. I think that is a disservice to our veterans. I don't think it is anything that--if you talk to veterans' groups, if you talk to the people who benefit from it, that they think that they ought to be denied the ability to consult with their trusted medical provider.
