Veterans' Groups Call for More Federal Funding of Health Care
Programs
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Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 2:06 PM
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Subject: Veterans' Groups Call for More Federal Funding of Health Care Programs
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=33969
Daily Health Policy Report
Coverage & Access
Veterans' Groups Call for More Federal Funding of Health Care Programs
Nov 28, 2005
Some veterans' groups allege that the federal government is not adequately
funding veterans' health programs and is attempting to shift more of the cost of
health care to veterans, the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The
Department of Veterans Affairs' $68 billion annual budget "is being outpaced
by the rising cost of health care and the soaring number of veterans eligible
for health care" and other benefits, according to the Journal-Constitution.
President Bush proposed to increase health funding by $100 million in fiscal
year 2006, but that amount still would be $3.4 billion less than what veterans'
groups say is necessary to meet current needs.
The Bush administration also has proposed increasing prescription drug
copayments to $15 per prescription per month and charging an annual $250
enrollment fee for the drug benefit. Veterans' groups for years have asked
Congress to include health care spending for veterans in mandatory spending
programs, which would allow funding to increase annually based on inflation, but
legislation circulating in Congress "hasn't moved far," the Journal-Constitution
reports.
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said including veterans' health care in mandatory
spending would increase costs. Isakson said that the government is "improving
vet benefits," particularly with prescription drugs and computerization of
patient records
(Kemper, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 11/27).