The U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee has approved a measure that would continue health care services for about 130,000 Maine veterans through the Veterans Choice Program.
The panel voted 18 to 2 for the measure, and it now goes to the full House for a vote. Maine 2nd District Rep. Bruce Poliquin serves on the committee.
“When its 2 in the morning and the snow is blowing sideways and you’re not feeling well, it’s really much better, much more convenient and just common sense to be able to get your health care closer to home,” he said.
Poliquin supported language in the measure that will make sure rural hospitals are paid in a timely manner for the care they give veterans under the program.
Similar legislation is being considered in the Senate and the bill is expected to go to the president for his approval before the end of the month, when the current authorization for the program runs out.
Poliquin 2 “ One of the problems we have had with the choice program that this bill helps fix, is that our small local hospitals that are providing veterans services to our folks who live in their local areas are not getting paid.”
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