Health care task force report debated

VFW Magazine, Oct, 2003 by Tim Dyhouse

A report issued by a federal task force in May (Washington Wire, August 2003) has sparked debate between two senior members on the House VA Committee. At issue is the recommendation from the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans that VA should provide care for veterans who do not have service-connected disabilities.

The report urged full, mandatory funding for VA categories 1 through 7, the latter being veterans with no service-connected conditions and annual incomes below approximately $23,000. It did not include Category 8 veterans, those with no service-connected conditions and whose incomes exceed that amount. They have been effectively eligible for VA care since 1998, and their enrollment has grown by 220,000 a year until it was suspended earlier this year due to lack of funds.

House VA Chairman Chris Smith (R-N.J) supported the task force's report. But Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) said that Congress made a mistake by opening VA enrollment, a move he supported at the time. He added that the task force did not adhere to its original charter and had been guided by politically motivated concerns.

VFW supports the task force's recommendations, as well as providing full, mandatory funding for Category 8 veterans.