President Obama Signs the Caregivers & Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act

The House of Representatives passed landmark veterans legislation that will provide greater health care services to veterans as well as those that provide them care. 

The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act will provide support to families and others who care for disabled, ill, or injured veterans.  Often when a veteran has a catastrophic injury, to avoid being confined to a nursing facility which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will pay for, the family will care for their loved one at home.  They frequently must quit their jobs, receive no compensation, and have no formal training in how to care for the veteran.  This bill will remedy that situation.  In addition, the legislation contains provisions to enhance health services for the growing number of women veterans and expand care for veterans in rural areas.

Most important to Paralyzed Veterans of America is a provision that prohibits the collection of copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.  Paralyzed Veterans has worked for several years on this important issue.  Veterans with spinal cord injury or disease, or many other catastrophic injuries, often have lower incomes than other veterans. 

In addition, due to the extent of their injuries, they will usually have significant numbers of conditions that require VA care.  Each of these conditions can require health care visits that can lead to significant copayment costs.  The legislation will remove this burden from our most seriously disabled veterans, and Paralyzed Veterans applauds this action.

Update on April 22, 2010:  The House passed the bill by a vote of 419-0.