Gerald Kleczka: “The amendment I offer to the bill would improve veterans' access to prescription drugs by permitting the Veterans…”

“The amendment I offer to the bill would improve veterans' access to prescription drugs by permitting the Veterans Administration to accept the prescriptions written by a veteran's family doctor. As my colleagues listen to this explanation, they might say, gosh, this is common sense. Why is this not being changed today? Well, the current law mandates that the veteran who is going to get a prescription from the VA has to see his primary doctor. In its wisdom a few years ago, Congress permitted nonservice connected disability veterans access to medical care, specifically the drug benefit. However, because of this law, veterans are having to wait 9 months to a year before they can see a Veterans Administration doctor. And once they wait that long, naturally, they have to still go to their local pharmacy and pay the full price for their drugs. But once they finally get through the waiting process, the doctor at the VA will examine the veteran and, for the most part, come to the same conclusion that the veteran's family physician came to, and then they get whatever drug is being prescribed.”