Click image to see Rep. Miller’s legislation.

This hopeful update is brought to you by frequent commenter Hepper.  

On May 22, 2015, the Senate passed an ACT to attempt to reform the restrictive way the VA and Secretary McDonald is interpreting the 40-mile rule.  

Click link to read: ‘‘Access to Community  Care for Veterans Act of 2015’’. 

The bill numbering changed from S. 207 >

S. 1463. 

As CNS news writes, “The Senate bill would open up private care to veterans who live within 40 miles of a medical facility run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, so long as the VA site does not offer the care required.”

Congress.gov is replacing Thomas.gov for legal research:  Status of S. 1463:

5/26/2015 Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

GOVTRACK is another way to keep track of this amendment.

So we’ll see how long it takes Chairman Miller to hold a hearing on this amendment and get it over to the House.  Of course, none of this delay would be necessary if the VA wasn’t so recalcitrant with regard to providing appropriate and timely health care to veterans close to their homes.  If you see the hearing scheduled on C-SPAN,  let us know.