Bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) would help survivors of military sexual trauma (MST) obtain treatment through the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
Walorski’s bill, H.R. 927, would enable MST survivors to be reimbursed for expenses incurred to travel long distances to receive treatment through the VA facilities that are outside their Veterans Integrated Service Network.
“There is no excuse for putting up barriers to treatment for survivors of military sexual trauma,” Walorski said. “We have a responsibility to ensure our veterans get the care and services they earned. This bipartisan bill will help survivors get the care they need to overcome physical and psychological pain from military sexual trauma, regardless of their geographic location or their distance from VA facilities.”
The VA Office of Inspector General found in 2012 that the VA’s beneficiary travel policy did not align with MST treatment policies that state survivors should be referred to programs that are clinically integrated, regardless of geographic location.
U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH), who introduced the bipartisan bill with Walorski, said men and women in uniform deserve the best care and access to health services possible.
“That commitment extends to the thousands of veterans who suffered trauma as a result of sexual assault while in service,” Kuster said. “The issue of military sexual assault is well documented and it’s critical that those who have been impacted are able to access the services they need.”