House passes veterans' health bill, cost-of-living increase

The House on Wednesday voted 417-0 to approve a bill (HR 1527) that would establish a three-year pilot program to allow "highly rural" veterans enrolled in four of the Department of Veterans Affairs' 21 health care networks to receive health services through outside providers, CQ Today reports.

The bill defines highly rural as veterans seeking primary care who live more than 60 miles from the nearest veterans' facility; veterans seeking acute hospital care who live more than 120 miles from a facility; and those seeking tertiary care who live more than 240 miles from a facility. The bill also would allow veterans to access care at other facilities if VA determines that travel would be difficult for veterans or subject them to hardship.

Separately, the House on Wednesday voted 418-0 to approve a bill (S 2617) that would provide a cost-of-living increase in disability benefits for veterans and dependents and indemnity compensation for the families of veterans. The increase, which will be calculated as of Sept. 30, is expected to be about 2.8%, compared with 2007's increase of 2.3%. If approved, the new rate would take effect on Dec. 1. The House passed companion legislation (HR 5826) in May. According to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chair Bob Filner (D-Calif.), the increase would affect more than three million veterans and roughly 300,000 survivors in fiscal year 2009, according to VA figures (Anderson, CQ Today, 9/10).

Army Suicides

In other news, Army commanders are turning to their counterparts in the Air Force and civilian agencies for ways to address and reduce the rising number of suicides among service members, Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker said on Wednesday, the AP/Boston Globe reports. He said, "We work real closely with [VA], who have for many years taken the lead in this," adding, "We've also looked across the services and at other models that have been more successful than our own."

In 2007, the Army suicide rate was 18.1 per 100,000, compared with 9.8 per 100,000 in 2002. Last year's suicide rate among civilians was 19.5 per 100,000. Schoomaker said the Army is increasing its prevention efforts and looking at successful programs and models, such as one used by the Air Force. The success of the Army's efforts will be determined by future suicide and attempt rates (Elliott, AP/Boston Globe, 9/11).