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<PRE>[DOCID: f:hc359ih.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 359

Expressing the sense of Congress opposing the enactment of any proposal 
  for the establishment of a deductible for veterans receiving health 
             care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 19, 2002

Mr. Strickland submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress opposing the enactment of any proposal 
  for the establishment of a deductible for veterans receiving health 
             care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Whereas the patriotism, devotion, and sacrifice of the Nation's veterans have 
        enabled the United States to be the most free nation on Earth and its 
        citizens to enjoy unequaled rights, privileges, and prosperity;
Whereas through their service the Nation's veterans made extraordinary 
        sacrifices and contributions and have earned certain benefits in return;
Whereas the Congress needs to ensure that the traditional philosophy of 
        providing free benefits to veterans as repayment and recognition for the 
        unusual rigors and personal deprivation they underwent for the country 
        is not abandoned;
Whereas despite the sacrifices made by veterans, the fiscal year 2003 budget 
        includes a proposal that veterans with nonservice-connected disabilities 
        who have incomes above a certain threshold and are in the priority group 
        for health care referred to as ``Priority Group 7'' be subject to an 
        annual deductible for Department of Veterans Affairs health care in the 
        amount of $1,500;
Whereas under that proposal, veterans would be assessed a deductible for both 
        inpatient and outpatient care at a rate of 45 percent of the 
        Department's cost of providing such care until they reach the deductible 
        amount;
Whereas in addition to the proposed $1,500 deductible, veterans would continue 
        to be required to pay the existing pharmacy copayment of $7 for each 30-
        day prescription and would continue to be subject to existing health 
        care copayments after reaching the $1,500 deductible;
Whereas although the fiscal year 2003 budget provides the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs with a $6,100,000,000 increase over the fiscal year 2002 budget, 
        that increase is largely attributable to increased collections in the 
        annual deductible and prescription copayments; and
Whereas the budget proposal for a $1,500 Department of Veterans Affairs health 
        care deductible is clearly a move to shift health care costs from the 
        Government to veterans and would constitute an intolerable and 
        unnecessary financial hardship to affected veterans: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that a deductible for veterans 
receiving health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs should 
not be enacted.
                                 &lt;all&gt;

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