Rep. Shea-Porter Introduces Legislation That Would Ensure In-State Health Services for Veterans

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) on Tuesday introduced legislation that would require states to have access to at least one full-service veterans' medical center or receive comparable care from non-military health care providers, the AP/Boston Globe reports. The legislation would ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs' ability to provide enhanced care out-of-state would not be restricted, Shea-Porter said. The bill also would require VA Secretary James Peake to report to Congress on how implementing the legislation would affect the quality of veteran health care.

According to the AP/Globe, New Hampshire is the only state without a full-service veterans' hospital or comparable services through a military facility. Shea-Porter said that as a result, many of the 130,000 veterans in New Hampshire must travel out of state to receive medical care. "Our local VA facility has done a great job of reaching out to local partners and getting our vets access to as much local care as possible, but current VA regulations do not allow them to fully utilize the local medical community," she said (AP/Boston Globe, 7/28).