Cassidy Applauds Passage of VA Reforms
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) applauded the House-passage of the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014. The House and Senate compromise included legislation introduced by Dr. Cassidy, the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2014, to extend and enhance treatment services available for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. The bill also authorizes funds to build clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles.
Dr. Cassidy released the following statement:
"Veterans must have the power to make their healthcare decisions. This is a good first step in ensuring veterans have choice and flexibility in making these decisions. Building clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles will make it easier for veterans to receive care. Veterans participating in a treatment program for traumatic brain injury will be able to receive rehabilitation services for an additional 3 years. Reforming the VA is an ongoing process, and I will continue to push for quality reforms and patient-centered solutions.”
Dr. Cassidy is an original co-sponsor or the Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014, which had many of its proposed reforms included in the final VA bill. This includes allowing veterans who are not able to obtain an appointment at a VA facility within a designated timeframe, or who live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility, to seek care through a private sector provider.
He also joined Rep. John Barrow (D-GA) to introduce a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives calling on the Department of Justice to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate misconduct at the VA.
In addition, he sent a letter to Acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson in support of the Louisiana House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs’ request to subpoena federal VA officials to attend a future committee hearing to hear Louisiana veterans’ concerns.
Last week, Dr. Cassidy hosted a veterans’ roundtable with representatives of service organizations and other veterans throughout the Sixth District of Louisiana.