Our Veterans sustained illness and injury for us, and we have the honor and duty to return the favor by making sure they can get medical attention without the burden of an additional emergency medical transportation cost.
April 24, 2023
The Honorable Mark Alford
4th Congressional District of Missouri
1516 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative Alford,
On behalf of the two million members of AMAC, the Association of Mature American Citizens, and over 8,000 members in MO-04, I am pleased to convey our support for H.R. 1774 –the “VA Emergency Transportation Act.”
Our Veterans volunteered for service, and while they did not ask for injuries, some sacrificed their health in service to the American people and in a heartfelt effort to secure our nation’s best interests. They sustained illness and injury for us, and we have the honor and duty to return the favor by making sure they can get medical attention without the burden of an additional emergency medical transportation cost in addition to the toll, financial, physical, and regarding their wellbeing, that they have already paid.
Your single subject bill ensures reimbursement to Veterans who need lifesaving transportation to a federal medical facility; and is a fantastic way to honor them, their service, and their sacrifice.
AMAC thanks you, Representative Alford, and your cosponsors, for highlighting, and raising this important healthcare benefit for our American Servicemembers with the “VA Emergency Transportation Act.”
Sincerely,
Bob Carlstrom
President
AMAC Action
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I think this is a wonderful proposal, but I don’t think it’s as easy as you make it sound. On most 911 calls for emergency medical care you are transported to the nearest trauma hospital. Which initiates the cascade of outrages medical cost you’re trying to avoid. I applaud your efforts. Unfortunately, for many the nearest “federal hospital” may be longer away than appropriate, minutes are important. And not all federal health care facilities have emergency services – America Lake VA, for one, does not, whereas Madigan Army Medical Center does. Not all of us are blessed with the “federal hospital services” offered in the area close by where they live. Which is one of the reasons why we live here. But even here, unless you live very close to one of our federal facilities that provide trauma care you’ll be taken to the closest hospital, stabilized and possibly be transferred to one of our federal hospitals – under ideal conditions. Not all veterans, by their own choice, are enrolled in any federal hospital, have never been treated in a “federal hospital” and don’t want to be. Whereas the VA has progressively become a supporter of national health care for veterans, military hospitals are not funded to support that mission. The mission of military hospitals is to take care of active duty service members and their families. Then Retirees and others are treated as space available, which is why many of us retirees have moved our care to the Seattle VA. I’m very pleased with the care the VA provides.
This is a Great idea and I support your efforts but from what I’m reading you need to get into this a lot more deeper and work out a lot of issues. It’s do-able.
This sounds great, but I would like to see an expansion of the benefit for non-emergency transportation to doctor’s appointments for those patients who cannot travel in a regular car or truck not equipped for wheelchairs or other equipment. A lot of folks must use ambulance vehicle services to go to regular medical appointments, and the cost is high. I don’t know whether the VA pays for this type of transportation, but if it doesn’t, I don’t see how a vet on disability retirement can afford to pay the bill. And it really should be part of the VA medical services, regardless of where the patient has to travel, emergency or non-emergency, if their medical condition is due to their military service.