Obama Administration Proposes Third-Party Billing for Combat-Related Injuries

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Washington Post

The Obama administration has proposed to bill veterans' private insurance companies for combat-related injuries. But the plan has incited an uproar on Capitol Hill and charges from veterans groups that the plan is unethical and would further burden the war-wounded and their families.

The proposal, which would save the Department of Veterans Affairs $530 million a year, threatens to complicate the new administration's relations with the 25 million Americans who have served in the military.

The plan would authorize the VA to pursue reimbursement of medical costs from private insurers, or so-called third-party billing, for treating injuries and medical conditions sustained in the course of a veteran's military service. The VA already pursues third-party billing for non-service-related conditions.

The Senate and House committees on veterans' affairs explicitly rejected the proposal today when they submitted recommendations on VA budget levels to their respective budget committees. But leaders of veterans groups said today that President Obama told them in a stormy meeting Monday that the plan would remain up for discussion. A meeting between the groups and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is scheduled for Thursday.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/17/AR2009031702537.html?hpid=topnews

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Sorry President Obama but this idea is really stupid. Wouldn't this make private insurance even more expensive for the rest of us? Wouldn't this make employers hesitant to hire an injured vet? And isn't it the country who sent them off to war to pay and take care of their war-related injuries the rest of their lives?

This one is a third-rail. If this doesn't get dropped I'm writing the WH & my represenatives saying drop this stupid idea.

And you just handed some more ammo to the RW.