the fact that the standard for access to care may vary depending on the type of care needed. As such, PVA has concerns regarding the use of a 30 day standard for access to care without specifying the type of care that is being provided. While PVA believes that timely access to quality care is vital to of providing primary care VA’s core mission and specialized services to veterans, it is also important that factors such as the nature of the services provided and efficient use of VA staff and resources be considered when developing standards for access to care. H.R. 288, the Act of “CHAMPVA Children’s Protection 2013” PVA supports H.R. 288, legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). CHAMPVA is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services for eligible beneficiaries, including children up to age 23. As a part of health reform, all commercial health insurance coverage increased the age for covered dependents to receive health insurance on their parents plan from 23 years of age to 26 years, in accordance with the provisions of P.L. 111-148, the Protection and “Patient Affordable Care also included health care coverage provided to Act.” This change service members and their families through TRICARE. Today, the only qualified dependents that are not covered under a health parent’s insurance policy up to age 26 are those of 100 percent service-connected disabled veterans covered under CHAMPVA. This unfortunate oversight has placed a financial
the fact that the standard for access to care may vary depending on the type of care needed. As such, PVA has concerns regarding the use of a 30 day standard for access to care without specifying the type of care that is being provided. While PVA believes that timely access to quality care is vital to VA’s core mission of providing primary care and specialized services to veterans, it is also important that factors such as the nature of the services provided and efficient use of VA staff and resources be considered when developing standards for access to care. H.R. 288, the “CHAMPVA Children’s Protection Act of 2013” PVA supports H.R. 288, legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). CHAMPVA is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services for eligible beneficiaries, including children up to age 23. As a part of health reform, all commercial health insurance coverage increased the age for covered dependents to receive health insurance on their parents plan from 23 years of age to 26 years, in accordance with the provisions of P.L. 111-148, the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” This change also included health care coverage provided to service members and their families through TRICARE. Today, the only qualified dependents that are not covered under a parent’s health insurance policy up to age 26 are those of 100 percent service-connected disabled veterans covered under CHAMPVA. This unfortunate oversight has placed a financial
HHRG-113-VR03-Wstate-PredeouxA-20130521.docx