Congresswoman Shea-Porter To Introduce Legislation Requiring New Hampshire Has Full Service VA Hospital

For Immediate Release Monday, July 28, 2008 MEDIA CONTACT Jamie Radice (202) 225-5456 Congresswoman Shea-Porter To Introduce Legislation Requiring New Hampshire Has Full Service VA Hospital Manchester, NH— Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter continued to demonstrate her unwavering support for veterans by announcing she will introduce legislation requiring the Veterans Administration to provide New Hampshire veterans with the same services veterans in other states receive at their full service hospitals. Congresswoman Shea-Porter’s bill, “The Veterans Equity Health Act,” will ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous states have access to at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration or receive comparable services provided by contract. “It is shameful that many of our veterans our forced to travel out of state because New Hampshire does not have a full service VA hospital,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. “My bill will ensure our vets have appropriate access to medical care.” The Veterans Equity Health Act requires the Secretary of the VA to ensure, with respect to the 48 contiguous States, veterans have access to either – At least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State; or To hospital care and medical services comparable to the services provided in full-service hospitals through contract with other health care providers in the State. The legislation ensures that the ability of the VA to provide enhanced care to veterans out-of-state will not be restricted. It simply makes sure that they have access to services in-state. It also requires the Secretary of the VA to report to Congress on the effect implementing these measures has on the veterans quality of care. New Hampshire is the only state that does not have a full service VA hospital or comparable services through a military facility. Although there are more than 130,000 veterans currently living in New Hampshire, many are forced to travel out of state for medical care, including cancer treatment. Last Friday, VA Affairs Secretary James Peake announced that the Manchester VA hospital will start offering radiation therapy.