FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 1997
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty 202/225-2165
WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) joined several other Members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs today as an original co-sponsor of Medicare "subvention" legislation.
"Under this bill, veterans who are eligible for Medicare will be able to receive care at certain Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals, instead of having to go to a non-military medical facility," Peterson said.
This legislation establishes a three-year demonstration project in three of VA's geographic service areas. At participating facilities, the VA could collect and retain Medicare payments for services provided to certain Medicare-eligible veterans. The participating geographic service areas have not yet been chosen.
"This program would allow the VA to improve access to care for Medicare-eligible veterans," Peterson said. "This demonstration project will be cost-neutral, and at the end of the three-year program we will evaluate the project to determine whether it should be made available at all VA hospitals."