U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) recently joined 10 fellow Republicans to unveil legislation that aims to provide continuity of healthcare for America’s military veterans.
“Our veterans deserve the best care possible,” Sen. Tillis said on Aug. 22. “This common-sense legislation allows veterans to continue care with their own trusted providers and cuts harmful red tape that prevents veterans from accessing the care they deserve.”
Sen. Tillis on July 25 signed on as an original cosponsor of the Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act, S. 4791, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and 9 other original cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Deb Fischer (R-NE).
If enacted, S. 4791 would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to consider continuity of healthcare when deciding whether seeing a provider in the community is in a veteran’s best medical interest, according to the text of the bill.
Information provided by Sen. Tillis notes that as the VA opens new facilities, many veterans are losing access to the department’s Community Care Program and, consequently, their long-term healthcare providers. Veterans throughout the country have reported a loss of care.
S. 4791 has been referred to the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for consideration.