PRINTER'S NO. 844
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
140
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY DiSANTO, BROWNE, FOLMER, MARTIN AND PHILLIPS-HILL,
MAY 31, 2019
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
MAY 31, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to ensure the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs sufficiently implements
the letter and spirit of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems
and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act
of 2018 and provide veterans in this Commonwealth with the
care they have earned for their military service.
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has a population of approximately
800,000 veterans; and
WHEREAS, The health and well-being of this Commonwealth's
veterans is of the utmost concern of the Senate of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, On June 6, 2018, the bipartisan VA MISSION Act of
2018 (Public Law 115-182, 132 Stat. 1393) was signed into law
and supported by more than 30 veteran and military service
organizations; and
WHEREAS, The successful implementation of the VA MISSION Act
of 2018 includes all of the following requirements:
(1) Consolidating the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) seven community care programs into a
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new Veterans Community Care Program and creating clear
eligibility standards for a veteran to access community care
if the VA does not offer the health care or services the
veteran needs.
(2) Creating seamless access to local urgent care
facilities.
(3) Innovating health care delivery and increasing
timely claims processing systems to reimburse community
providers.
(4) Strengthening the VA's workforce by allowing the VA
to recruit and retain the best medical providers.
(5) Removing barriers for VA healthcare professionals to
practice telemedicine.
(6) Expanding eligibility for the VA Family Caregiver
Program to veterans from all eras of service who were
seriously injured while serving in the military, rather than
only those veterans who have served since September 11, 2001.
(7) Allowing the VA to partner with the six veterans'
homes operated by the Commonwealth by entering into provider
agreements that are not subject to Federal contracting
regulations.
(8) Strengthening the VA's ability to manage its real
property portfolio and build a high-performing, integrated
health care system;
and
WHEREAS, Our nation's veterans have made enormous sacrifices
to guarantee our freedoms; and
WHEREAS, Although our nation can never fully repay its debt
of gratitude to our veterans, it can and should ensure timely
access to the highest quality of healthcare for our veterans;
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therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
urge the Congress of the United States to ensure the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs sufficiently implements
the letter and spirit of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and
Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018
and provide veterans in this Commonwealth with the care they
have earned for their military service; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States and to each member of
Congress from Pennsylvania.
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