Braley Announces Legislation Expanding Access to Veterans Care

Will Allow
Veterans Facilities to Compete for More Medical Providers with Student Loan
Repayment

Washington, DC - Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced today
he plans to introduce legislation expanding access to veterans care by allowing
the Veterans Administration to recruit more qualified mental health providers,
doctors, nurses and dentists to America's rural communities. The
Veterans Access to Care Act will
classify Veterans Administration facilities and state Veterans Homes as Health
Professional Shortage Areas, allowing them to compete for National Health
Service Corps fellows, creating more incentive for high-performing medical
students to serve America's veterans. Braley spoke at the VFW in
Davenport
today.

"In my office there is no higher
priority than helping veterans and military families receive the compensation,
benefits, and other services they have earned," Braley said. "The VA is facing an increased and unprecedented demand
for medical services today as aging World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War
veterans require more medical care and thousands of veterans are returning home
from Iraq and
Afghanistan with serious physical and
mental health needs.

"The Veterans Access to Care Act will allow the
VA to recruit more qualified mental health professionals, doctors, dentists and
nurses to treat our nation's veterans by competing for National Health Service
Corps funding and ensuring our veterans have access to the care they have not
only earned, but also the high-quality care they
deserve."

The National Health Services Corps
(NHSC) is administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) at the Department of Health and Human Services. Health Professional
Shortage Areas are designated by HHS as having shortages of primary medical
care, dental or mental health providers and may be geographic (a county or
service area), demographic (low income population) or institutional (federally
qualified health centers or certain other public facilities).

By designating VA facilities and
state Veterans Homes as Health Professional Shortage Areas, it allows these
sites to compete for National Health Service Corps fellows, which is a program
that pays student loan repayment to doctors, dentists, and mental health
professionals who pledge to practice in a HPSA for at least two years. Under the
Veterans Access to Care Act, a VA
facility must show the need for more medical professionals and competes based on
need with the other eligible sites, such as Community Health Clinics and
prisons.  If America's veterans aren't getting the
care they need, they deserve the chance to show their need and be
treated.