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VA To Offer Health Care to Previously Ineligible Veterans
Posted by Tom Tarantino on January 28

Department of Veterans Affairs News Release January 8, 2009
 
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced todayplans to re-open enrollment in its health care system by July 2009 toabout 265,000 veterans whose incomes exceed current limits. "We're pleased to be able to offer what has been called `the best care anywhere' to many more new veterans," said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "We'll be able to provide these newly
enrolled veterans with the kind of timely, high quality health care
veterans who already use our system are accustomed to."
 
The change affects veterans whose incomes exceed the current VA means test and geographic means test income thresholds by 10 percent or less. Congress provided funds in VA's fiscal year 2009 budget to
support the new enrollment.

In 1996, Congress established a priority-based enrollment system for
VA and a uniform package of medical benefits for all enrollees. The
legislation opened enrollment in VA's health care system to all
eligible veterans and required that each year the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs assess veterans' demand for services and determine if
the necessary resources are available to provide timely, quality care
to all enrollees.

Enrollment for the lowest priority of the eight groups—veterans who
are not being compensated for a military-related disability and who
have incomes above a set threshold—was suspended on January 18, 2003, although veterans in that priority group who were already enrolled for care were permitted to remain enrolled.

VA originally suspended enrollment for Priority 8 veterans because it
was unable to provide all enrolled veterans with timely access to its
health care due to a tremendous growth in the number of veterans then
seeking enrollment. VA now plans to reopen enrollment for a portion
of these veterans without compromising the Department's ability to
provide high quality health care services to all enrolled veterans who
are eligible for care.

VA's computer systems are being modified to accommodate the changes,
and the Department is preparing communication and education materials
to ensure that Congress, veterans service organizations, and the
public are aware of the coming changes.

"The rule will take effect by June 30, 2009, if the regulatory process
proceeds smoothly," Peake said. "We look forward to welcoming these
newly eligible veterans into the VA system. VA will continue to
monitor wait times to ensure the quality of care is not adversely
affected."
 

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