Lawmakers Against Obama's Plan

Lawmakers Say They Will Not Draft or Advance Obama's Plan To Reduce VA Costs by Having Private Insurers Pay for Care 03/18/09. Lawmakers on Tuesday "explicitly ruled out" the possibility of enacting President Obama's proposal to have private insurers cover the costs of combat-related injuries for veterans, the Washington Post reports (Scott Tyson, Washington Post, 3/18). Under the policy, which is included in Obama's fiscal year 2010 budget proposal, the Department of Veterans Affairs would bill health insurers for treatment of injuries and conditions sustained as a result of veterans' military service. Currently, VA covers those costs and bills health insurers only for treatment for conditions unrelated to veterans' military service (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/10). VA estimates the plan could save the agency $530 million annually in health care cost. KaiserNetwork.org