Poliquin espouses new VA law during home-state roundtable

Uncle Sam owes millions of dollars to Maine hospitals and others around the nation that desperately need the funds as soon as possible, U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) told attendees on Aug. 17 during a roundtable event held at the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

“There is no excuse for our hospitals to bear the burden of millions of dollars of backlog that the federal government owes them for critical services to our veterans, which is why I’ve worked so hard to get that money paid back,” Rep. Poliquin said.

Hospitals across the United States are owed reimbursement funds from the federal government for paying the costs to treat U.S. military veterans who participate in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Choice Program. The major issue, according to a statement from Rep. Poliquin’s staff, is that the federal government has been delinquent in making reimbursements, resulting in financial pressure on hospitals, especially those in rural areas.

The congressman hosted U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN), chairman of the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Maine hospital executives, VA officials from the state and federal levels, and VA government contractors at the event, where he discussed the VA MISSION Act of 2018, S. 2372 / H.R. 5674, a measure he supported that was signed into law on June 6.

The comprehensive law includes language the congressman helped author to reform payment processes that better guarantee hospitals receive prompt payments and U.S. military veterans continue receiving health care closer to their homes.

“On the Veterans Affairs Committee, I … pushed for a provision to be included in the landmark veterans bill that was made law earlier this year — the VA MISSION Act — that will make reforms to the payment processes and help prevent these backlogs from occurring again,” he said.

Rep. Poliquin noted that not only will health care services be maintained near where veterans live, including throughout rural areas, but guaranteeing hospitals get paid also will ensure the facilities stay up and running in their communities.

“This Congress over two dozen veterans bills have been signed into law, and — whether he’s advocating for more options for care for veterans or ensuring VA pays rural hospitals in a timely manner — Congressman Poliquin’s steadfast commitment to veterans has been an invaluable asset to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs,” Rep. Roe said during the roundtable discussion. “It was a privilege to join Bruce in Maine … and hear firsthand from Mainers about their experiences with VA.”