Hassan helps introduce legislation to increase travel reimbursement rates for veterans
U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jon Tester (D-MT) to introduce legislation that will increase reimbursement rates for veterans who must travel to receive medical care provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
As part of Senator Hassan’s work to lower costs for Granite Staters, the Veterans Medical Mileage Adjustment Act of 2022 would increase the reimbursement rate for the Beneficiary Travel Program for eligible veterans who have to travel more than seven miles for VA-related health care.
“Too often, Granite State veterans have to travel far distances to get the health care that they need. Making matters worse, they have had to grapple with high energy prices that can make traveling more expensive than ever before,” said Senator Hassan. “Increasing reimbursement rates will help more veterans – no matter where they live – access VA health care. This is an issue that uniquely impacts Granite Staters veterans, and I’m proud to help push forward this bipartisan legislation so that we can better deliver on our promise to support those who bravely served our country.”
The legislation is endorsed by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Wounded Warrior Project.
This bill is part of ongoing efforts from Senator Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to strengthen support for veterans. Last month, the President signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ historic, bipartisan military toxic exposure bill. The President also signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021 to direct the VA to create a program to recruit military medical personnel who have less than one year left in their service to work in federal health care occupations at the VA. Additionally, earlier this month, the VA announced it will extend eligibility for certain veterans and their family caregivers through September 30, 2025 following Senator Hassan’s push for the VA to address concerns with the Program Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.