Tiahrt Introduces the Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009
Congressional Desk
March 21, 2009
WASHINGTON—U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) introduced the Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009. The bill would prohibit the Veterans Administration from billing a veteranīs personal insurance company for hospital care or medical services associated with a service-connected disability.
Tiahrt introduced the Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act to block the Obama Administration's proposal that would require private insurers to reimburse the VA for certain healthcare costs associated with a service-related disability. Although the Administration announced late Wednesday it was withdrawing its proposal, Tiahrt said it was important to ensure any future consideration of this disrespectful plan would not be authorized.
"As a country, we made a commitment to our veterans to provide for their healthcare needs," said Tiahrt. "The bill I introduced this week honors that commitment by preventing the Obama Administration or any future Administration from putting an unwarranted burden on veterans and their private insurance providers.
"Americaīs promise to provide for the healthcare needs of veterans should be fully honored. I want Congress to make it understood that any Administration proposal that seeks to increase burdens on our nationīs veterans will not be permitted to move forward."
Earlier this week, Tiahrt sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to withdraw his VA plan. Tiahrt wrote that the White House proposal would "add additional burdens on our veterans." The letter went to say, "Providing billion dollar bailouts for corporations one week and increasing burdens for our veterans another week is not a message we should be sending our brave men and women who have served in harm's way on behalf of our nation."
Tiahrt introduced the Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act to block the Obama Administration's proposal that would require private insurers to reimburse the VA for certain healthcare costs associated with a service-related disability. Although the Administration announced late Wednesday it was withdrawing its proposal, Tiahrt said it was important to ensure any future consideration of this disrespectful plan would not be authorized.
"As a country, we made a commitment to our veterans to provide for their healthcare needs," said Tiahrt. "The bill I introduced this week honors that commitment by preventing the Obama Administration or any future Administration from putting an unwarranted burden on veterans and their private insurance providers.
"Americaīs promise to provide for the healthcare needs of veterans should be fully honored. I want Congress to make it understood that any Administration proposal that seeks to increase burdens on our nationīs veterans will not be permitted to move forward."
Earlier this week, Tiahrt sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to withdraw his VA plan. Tiahrt wrote that the White House proposal would "add additional burdens on our veterans." The letter went to say, "Providing billion dollar bailouts for corporations one week and increasing burdens for our veterans another week is not a message we should be sending our brave men and women who have served in harm's way on behalf of our nation."
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