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INDIANAPOLIS - There are over 476,000 Hoosier veterans, many of them seek health care through the Veterans Affairs, and a growing number are having difficulty with unpaid medical bills. U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly has introduced a new proposal that seeks to protect these veterans from credit agencies.
The Veterans Access, Choice, Accountability Act of 2014 expanded the number of health care options for veterans but has also led to a backlog of unpaid medical bills. U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly says he wants to address this problem.
"Some of our veterans are experiencing long wait times and issues making appointments through the veterans choice program." Said Donnelly. "In addition, some are getting billed inappropriately because the Department of Veterans affairs has failed to pay providers in a timely fashion."
The legislation Donnelly co-authored would delay debt from being reported to credit agencies for one-year for vets who have accessed services through the Veterans Choice Program.
Deputy Director of Healthcare at the American Legion, Roscoe Butler says this bill ensure that veterans have access to care without the fear of financial problems.
"They deserve the very best quality health care the VA can provide." Butler said.
A companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives also aims to address this issue.
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