Maryland Delegation Members Applaud Final Passage of Veterans’ Health Care Bill with Funding for Two Maryland Veterans Clinics | U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland

August 02, 2022

Invoice now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into regulation

Right this moment, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.) introduced the ultimate Senate passage of laws to open two veterans clinics in Baltimore and Prince George’s County. The bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Handle Complete Toxics Act (PACT Act) which handed right now by a vote of 86-11, gives healthcare advantages for all generations of toxic-exposed veterans for the primary time within the nation’s historical past and can enhance entry to look after all those that served in our nation’s armed forces. The invoice now goes to President Biden to be signed into regulation.

The lawmakers fought to incorporate authorization and funding for the 2 Maryland veterans’ well being clinics – one within the Baltimore area and one other in Prince George’s County. $43 million will help the development of a brand new Baltimore Neighborhood Based mostly Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), which can substitute and broaden the outpatient companies presently supplied on the present Baltimore VA Clinic Annex on Fayette Avenue whereas lowering the pressure on the Baltimore VA Medical Middle. $32 million is put aside for the development of a Prince George’s CBOC; this new facility will probably be considerably bigger than the prevailing clinic within the southern a part of the county and symbolize a significant improve for space veterans, as the brand new clinic will probably be outfitted to supply companies past the capabilities of the present clinic in addition to the Southeast D.C. CBOC.

“We’ve obtained to maintain our guarantees to veterans who put themselves as danger to serve our nation, and that features making certain they’ve entry to high-quality well being care. The bipartisan PACT Act will just do that – investing $75 million in new and upgraded outpatient clinics that can assist ship much-needed companies to Maryland veterans,” stated Senator Van Hollen. “This can be a massive win for our communities and a vital step ahead in enhancing the community of look after veterans throughout our state whereas additionally making a historic funding in care and advantages for veterans uncovered to toxins. I stay up for the President signing this invoice into regulation as quickly as attainable.”

“Maryland veterans served this nation with honor and so they deserve entry to top-notch well being care companies in a well timed and handy method,” stated Senator Cardin. “Offering well being care advantages to the hundreds of American veterans uncovered to toxins emanating from burn pits is crucial. Increasing the community of Neighborhood Based mostly Outpatient Clinics out there to Baltimore space veterans and drastically upgrading the amenities and companies for veterans inside Prince George’s County will convey a lot wanted, state-of-the-art well being care companies inside simpler attain for all veterans who name Maryland residence.” 

“This historic piece of laws can have a major influence on the lives of Prince George’s County veterans, enhancing the standard of their well being care and making certain that they obtain the advantages and companies they deserve. I’m glad that the Senate handed this invoice right now, sending it to President Biden for signature, and I stay up for witnessing the constructive distinction it is going to make within the Fifth District and all through the state of Maryland,” stated Congressman Hoyer.

“Our veterans deserve state-of-the-art healthcare in state-of-the-art amenities,” Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger stated. “Additionally they deserve a healthcare system that’s accessible and handy. This new clinic will assist us ship on all of those guarantees and I’m happy with the staff effort that went into making it occur for our native veterans.”

“Our nation can by no means repay the debt we owe our veterans, however passage of this laws right now is a vital step to enhance entry to the vital advantages they deserve. Upholding our accountability to care for individuals who defend our nation and democracy, the Honoring Our PACT Act expands protection for veterans uncovered to poisonous substances throughout their service and establishes two new veterans’ clinics in Maryland,” stated Congressman Sarbanes. “I’m happy that we’re sending this laws to President Biden’s desk with sturdy, bipartisan help.” 

“In case you put your life on the road overseas to guard Individuals’ freedoms at residence, you should be taken care of each throughout and after your army service,” stated Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “I’m proud to have supported the Honoring Our PACT Act, which furthers our nation’s dedication to our courageous servicemembers by guaranteeing that their well being wants will at all times be met regardless of the circumstances.”

“We make a sacred promise to our servicemembers after they return residence – to supply our veterans with the perfect well being care our nation has to supply. Essential to upholding that promise, is a dedication to entry within the communities our veterans dwell in,” stated Congressman Anthony Brown. “This laws and funding will assist meet Maryland veterans the place they’re and supply the standard care that they deserve. We’ll by no means cease combating for the courageous women and men who’ve served and we’ll at all times have their backs.”

Extra Background on the Baltimore and Prince George’s County CBOC Plans

For the Baltimore CBOC, this laws gives for a lease of an roughly 112,624 sq. foot outpatient clinic, together with 800 parking areas. The brand new facility would allow VA to reinforce outpatient companies and supply extra main care area than is presently out there on the Baltimore VA Clinic Annex. 

For the Prince George’s County clinic, the PACT Act gives for a lease of an roughly 85,116 sq. foot outpatient clinic, together with 600 parking areas. The brand new facility would allow VA to accommodate the workload that the Southern Prince George’s County and Southeast D.C. CBOCs presently service, which has elevated for the reason that closure of the Greenbelt CBOC in 2015, and permit extra sufferers to obtain care nearer to their houses. 

Each clinics will permit for the complete implementation of the Affected person Aligned Care Staff (PACT) mannequin of care supply, enhancing operational efficiencies and the veteran expertise. They are going to be state-of-the-art, energy-efficient well being care amenities providing main care, psychological well being, specialty care, and ancillary companies to veterans.

Concerning the PACT Act

Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson deployed to Kosovo and Iraq with the Ohio Nationwide Guard. He died in 2020 from poisonous publicity because of his army service. Amongst its many priorities, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 will: 

• Broaden VA well being care eligibility to Publish-9/11 fight veterans, which incorporates greater than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
• Create a framework for the institution of future presumptions of service connection associated to poisonous publicity;
• Add 23 burn pit and poisonous exposure-related situations to VA’s checklist of service presumptions, together with hypertension;
• Broaden presumptions associated to Agent Orange publicity; 
  • Contains Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as places for Agent Orange publicity;
• Strengthen federal analysis on poisonous publicity;
• Enhance VA’s sources and coaching for toxic-exposed veterans; and
• Set VA and veterans up for achievement by investing in: 
  • VA claims processing;
  • VA’s workforce; and
  • VA well being care amenities.
• Set up 31 new VA well being care amenities throughout 19 states, together with the 2 in Maryland.