Bill: SB 1463, 84(R) - 2015
Committee
Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
Vote Recommendation
Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Eddie Lucio Jr.
Bill Caption
Relating to improving the delivery of health care services to veterans in this state.
Fiscal Notes
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
This legislation would amend Government Code to require the Office of the Governor to negotiate with
certain federal agencies to improve health care services for veterans, including the establishment
of a veteran's hospital in the Rio Grande Valley region and the prompt payment of claims
submitted by community health care providers. The bill would further require the office of the governor and the University of Texas System to identify resources to be used in providing "quality health care in the Rio Grande Valley".
Vote Recommendation Notes
The federal government clearly needs to do a better job of upholding its obligation to our veterans. This bill aims to get better care at Veterans Administration hospitals and to encourage the establishment of a new Veterans Administration hospital in the Rio Grande Valley in conjunction with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley medical school.
While we approve of the effort to hold the federal government accountable for veterans services, we are uncertain of the efficacy of establishing a new VA hospital before the existing hospitals get up to the standard that is expected of them. For this reason, we remain neutral on SB 1463.