Paralyzed Veterans of America Weighs in on the American Health Care Act Debate

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a May 3, 2017 letter sent to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Paralyzed Veterans of America  (Paralyzed Veterans) urged the House leaders to reject the latest version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), citing conflicting information circulating about this legislation and the adverse impact it could have on paralyzed veterans, as well as other veterans with disabilities.

For veterans and Paralyzed Veterans' members in particular, the letter stated, "the AHCA continues several problematic policies first identified with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as well as new provisions that could affect the ability of many veterans and their family members to afford health insurance in the private market.  The underlying AHCA bill would purportedly:

• Continue to exclude The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) beneficiaries—dependents of the most catastrophically disabled veterans—from the dependents' coverage policy up to age 26.
• Fail to remove the prohibition on enrollment into the VA health care system for Priority Group 8 veterans, thus denying these veterans access to the principal health care system for veterans.
• Deny access to tax credits making health insurance affordable to anyone eligible for a host of other federal health programs, including those "eligible" for coverage under Title 38 health care programs.  This would prevent many veterans who may be "eligible for" but not enrolled in the VA health care system from accessing these tax credits intended to help people buy insurance."

By a vote of 217 to 213 on May 4, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved legislation intended to repeal and replace major parts of the Affordable Care Act. As the Senate prepares to take up the issue, Paralyzed Veterans of America National President Al Kovach, Jr. today expressed hope that the Senate will set aside politics and confront the issues that made both the ACA and AHCA problematic for veterans with severe disabilities.  

"Disagreement continues over whether eligible veterans will receive tax credits under the new law or whether the new law will actually prohibit it once enacted,'" said Kovach. "Our Congress needs to take the lessons we learned from unclear provisions in the Affordable Care Act and ensure any new law is better than the status quo for veterans and dependents who have been largely overlooked."

The measure is now headed to the Senate, where Senate leaders will face a new set of political and procedural challenges that could complicate the final passage of the House bill or will, most likely, require the crafting of an entirely new bill.

"For Paralyzed Veterans of America members and all of the nation's veterans, health care is not a political issue. It is literally a matter of life and death in many cases," concluded Kovach. "We are unconcerned with partisan arguments, political affiliations or even the title of the new healthcare law. We simply want our government to get it right."                                                    

About Paralyzed Veterans

Paralyzed Veterans of America is the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the benefit and representation of veterans with spinal cord injury or disease. For 70 years, we have ensured that veterans have received the benefits earned through their service to our nation; monitored their care in VA spinal cord injury units; and funded research and education in the search for a cure and improved care for individuals with paralysis.

As a partner for life, Paralyzed Veterans also develops training and career services, works to ensure accessibility in public buildings and spaces, provides health and rehabilitation opportunities through sports and recreation and advocates for veterans and all people with disabilities. With more than 70 offices and 34 chapters, Paralyzed Veterans serves veterans, their families and their caregivers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (pva.org).

SOURCE Paralyzed Veterans of America

Related Links

http://pva.org