Veterans' Health Care to Suffer
Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For mor info, visit the WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Clinton's budget shortchanges veterans and is
based on faulty assumptions, House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob
Stump (R-AZ) said today.
"The Administration's proposed funding level for VA health care is a slap in
the face of every veteran," Stump said, "It ignores the increasing cost of
caring for veterans, especially the aging veterans of World War II who
depend on VA health care."
Stump noted the President recited a detailed wish list for more than 70
other programs in his January 19th State of the Union address while hardly
mentioning veterans.
Stump said the Administration's proposal for meeting increased health care
needs depends on
exaggerating potential savings and overprojecting collections from insurance
companies. He also said the Administration's budget doesn't provide for
inflation, increased costs, and the need to fund treatment of new diseases.
Stump said the 1997 balanced budget agreement no longer freezes veterans'
health care, his greatest concern as committee chairman. He said funds could
be switched from other accounts to cover the rising health care needs of
veterans.
"Our preliminary analysis tells us that inflation alone will take a bite of
at least $700 million out of the VA budget," said Stump, "and there is no
adjustment for inflation in the President's package."
Committee staff also have learned that the Administration rejected the VA's
request for $963 million in new health care funds in the year 2000, $700
million of that just to meet the new threat of hepatitis C.
Stump warned that Congress has to be skeptical about the VA's claim that it
can achieve $1.4 billion million in potential savings through "management
efficiencies."
"The VA has never achieved that level of savings in one year," Stump said,
"Based on history, I doubt the VA could save that much money without a
serious disruption in services."
He said the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has already cut 20,000
medical care employees, eliminated half of its acute care hospital beds, and
merged many neighboring hospitals since the end of 1994. While Stump praised
the VA for achieving these results, he said these past successes didn't take
away the need for additional funding.
CONTACT: Dan Amon
February 1, 1999
(202) 225-3664
House Committe on Veterans Affairs Website
Disclaimer of Endorsement:
Reference herein to any specific commercial products,
process, or service by trade name, trademark,
manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily
constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation,
or favoring by VNIS. The views and opinions of
authors expressed herein do not necessarily state
or reflect those of VNIS, and shall not be used for
advertising or product endorsement purposes.
VNIS is not a government agency and is a sole proprietorship,
own and operated by: Christian L. Wilson USN/Ret
