U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., has teamed up with U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., on a bill to “expand the pool of providers eligible to cross state lines when conducting disability exams for veterans.”
The South Florida congresswoman offered her reasons for backing the “Veterans Exam Expansion Act,” which Ciscomani introduced last week with her as a co-sponsor.
“Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) contracted physicians have had ability to practice across state lines since 2016. In 2020, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act gave temporary authority to VBA-contracted nurse practitioners, physician assistants, audiologists, and psychologist. This legislation, titled the Veterans Exam Expansion Act, would expand that authority to include dentists, podiatrists, and optometrists,” the congresswoman’s office noted.
“By allowing VA-contracted medical providers to perform disability exams across state lines, more veterans will be able to quickly get the benefits they deserve and have earned — reducing barriers to benefits nationwide,” said Cherfilus-McCormick.“I am introducing this bipartisan legislation with my House Veterans’ Affairs Committee colleague so that the VA can better serve veterans, including those in rural and underserved communities which face limited access to medical care and examinations.”
“Time and time again, I hear of the burdens our veterans face when it comes to receiving their benefits, from bureaucratic red tape to lengthy wait times,” said Ciscomani. “By expanding who and where our veterans can go for disability exams, it will be easier and faster for our veterans to get the disability benefits they rightfully deserve.”
The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) are backing the proposal. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
