Yoho Votes to Ensure Veterans Care

Washington, DC - Today Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL-03) voted in favor of H.R. 3230 - Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014. Yoho gave the following statement after his vote:

"Our veterans deserve access to quality care and they need it now. The bill we passed this evening, aims to do just that. Not only does this legislation provide the necessary funds for our veterans to get quality care, but it also allows our heroes to find care out side the system - non-VA hospitals - at the VA's expense. After many discussions with our veterans in the 3rd District, I have found that this is a much needed and much wanted fix. Additionally, this legislation forces independent assessments of hospital care to ensure our veterans are getting the best care possible. These assessments will require an increased focus on new scheduling and appointments techniques that will provide transparency and accountability. No more secret waiting lists. As a proud representative of over 100,000 veterans I remain committed to making sure they receive quality care as quickly as possible. They stood up for us, they deserve a government that stands for them." 

Bill Highlights

• Inspector General (IG) is required to submit the top 5 occupations where there are staffing shortages and begin direct recruiting for those positions.
• Increases graduate residency positions at the VA to 1, 5000.
   
• Extends VA’s Health Professionals Education Assistance Program (HPEAP) to incentivize recruits. HPEAP provides scholarships, tuition assistance, and debt reduction assistance.
• Authorizes Secretary to carry out major medical facility leases, but also requires the Secretary to comply with Office of Management and Budget’s budgetary treatment of lease-purchase agreements as well as the Anti-Deficiency Act, which has not been getting done in recent years.
   
• Requires an independent assessment of hospital care and medical services.
• Establishes a Commission on Access to Care – VA Secretary and other agency heads will be required to implement Commission recommendation.
   
• Extends until 2017 the pilot program on the effectiveness of providing assisted living services to veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  This was critical to veterans suffering from TBI because the symptoms do not present until months or years after the initial injury.  More research has to be done on how to recognize and treat TBI and the program was going to expire.
   
• Increases accountability for mobile medical units (MMUs) by standardizing requirements for operations and requiring an annual report to Congress. Requires increased access for veterans in rural communities
• Addresses “prompt payment rule” – VA transfers the authority to pay for hospital care, medical service, and other health care furnished through non-VA providers from Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) to the Chief Business Office of the VHA and VA

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Congressman Ted Yoho serves on the Foreign Affairs and Agriculture Committees. He represents North Florida’s 3rd Congressional District