Jay Rockefeller: “the legislation would authorize VA to furnish maternity care to women veterans, but would not authorize VA to furnish…”

“the legislation would authorize VA to furnish maternity care to women veterans, but would not authorize VA to furnish neonatal care to the children of these veterans. Without express authority to furnish such care, VA would have no basis for caring for a veteran's child. Mr. President, the purpose of the provision in the bill is that a woman veteran receive prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. Given VA's history of not furnishing such care, I fully expect that delivery services will be contracted out to non-VA facilities--such as DOD facilities and medical school affiliates of VA medical centers. This would ensure that, while there will be no disruption of care between the time of delivery and neonatal care, VA's obligation to pay for the delivery can and will be segregated from the cost of the child's care.”