Todays news from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): Senate Oks Sanders-McCain Bill: The Senate voted 93-3 Wednesday for legislation by Sens. Bernie Sanders and John McCain to expand hospitals and clinics run by the Department of Veterans Affairs and to hire more doctors and nurses to provide timely, quality care for veterans. I think weve shown that we can overcome partisanship and move quickly on a very important issue, Sanders said, adding that he hopes to bring a unified House-Senate bill to a vote as soon as next week, The Associated Press reported. Bill Improves VA: The Sanders-McCain bill would allow VA to do more contracting with private medical centers to meet demand for care and to shift $500 million within its budget to hire additional medical staff. It would also give the VA secretary greater power to fire or demote senior executives for poor performance, The Washington Post and others reported. Vermont Veterans: In more rural areas of Vermont, veterans will be able to receive health care services closer to home under a VA reform bill by Sen. Sanders, Vermont Public Radio said. If Vermont VA patients request treatment from a community doctor — either due to their rural location or for other reasons — the Vermont VA currently pays for that treatment the Times Argus and Rutland Herald reported. What our veterans deserve is to be able to get into the system in a timely manner and get quality care, Sanders said in the Burlington Free Press. FBI in VA Probe: As the Senate took up the Sanders-McCain bill, the Federal Bureau of Investigation director said agents are looking at potential crimes by VA officials who were alleged to have manipulated medical waiting lists and delayed care for thousands of veterans, The Associated Press reported. Continue reading here: sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/061214
Posted on: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:28:21 +0000