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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) – rating member and chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) – at this time launched laws that may improve reimbursement charges for veterans who should journey to obtain medical care supplied by way of the Division of Veterans Affairs (VA). U.S. Consultant Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) will introduce companion laws within the Home.
In response to excessive inflation, the Veterans Medical Mileage Adjustment Act of 2022 would improve the reimbursement charge for the Beneficiary Journey Program for eligible veterans who must journey greater than seven miles for VA-related well being care.
“Inflation and rising prices have resulted in increasingly veterans shouldering extra prices when touring to obtain well being care supplied by the VA,” mentioned Sen. Moran. “Elevating reimbursement charges will assist maintain the Beneficiary Journey Program related and make sure travel-related prices should not inhibiting our veterans from receiving the care they deserve.”
“For Montana veterans residing in rural or distant areas, attending to a VA well being care appointment can imply driving dozens of miles every approach to their nearest facility,” mentioned Sen. Tester. “Rising the mileage reimbursement charge will guarantee VA advantages are maintaining tempo with rising transportation prices, so veterans can proceed accessing their earned care—regardless of the place they stay.”
“With gasoline costs in California up over two {dollars} in the previous few years, touring is dearer than ever,” mentioned Congressman LaMalfa. “Whereas some Californians attempt to make ends meet by reducing again on driving or different requirements, rural veterans searching for medical remedies have few choices. They depend on hospitals and clinics positioned removed from their dwelling. We shouldn’t drive our veterans to shoulder increasingly of this value as a result of Washington has deserted an inexpensive power coverage. This laws will improve the mileage reimbursement charge to guard our veterans from government-created inflation.”
This laws is cosponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.).
Moreover, this laws is endorsed by the American Legion, Veterans of Overseas Wars of the U.S. (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Wounded Warrior Undertaking.
The Veterans Medical Mileage Adjustment Act of 2022 would:
- Improve the VA mileage reimbursement charge from $0.415 to $0.455 per mile.
- Assist cowl the out-of-pocket bills veterans and their caregivers incur when scheduled well being care of medical incapacity examinations require them to journey greater than seven miles, or greater than 14 miles spherical journey.
- Incorporate the findings of the annual Inside Income Service research on transportation prices displaying a rise in gasoline, insurance coverage, upkeep, depreciation and different prices to reduce the burden on veterans and caregivers.
- Apply the rise to any veteran or caregiver at present eligible for the Beneficiary Journey reimbursement profit for journey that happens after enactment of the Veterans Medical Mileage Adjustment Act of 2022.
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