WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she has joined Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to introduce the Veterans Reimbursement for Emergency Ambulance Services Act (VREASA), S.2392. This bipartisan legislation would authorize veterans’ expenses for emergency ambulance services to non-VA facilities to be reimbursed by the VA. This legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by Reps. Scott Tipton (R-CO) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).
“Each year, over 100,000 veterans face the struggle of paying for out of pocket expenses for emergency ambulance services due to VA regulations,” said Senator Rosen. “This legislation would address this problem by providing veterans with reimbursement for emergency ambulance services. I will continue working on commonsense legislation that looks out for the health and wellbeing of our veterans in Nevada, and across our country.”
“Emergency ambulance bills deliver huge financial burdens to our veterans,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill corrects unfair regulations that harm those who offered their lives for our country and ensures they are given the health care benefits they have earned.”
BACKGROUND: The Veterans Reimbursement for Emergency Ambulance Services Act (VREASA) has been endorsed by The American Legion, VFW, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and the American Ambulance Association.
This year, Senator Rosen has sponsored, co-led, or co-sponsored nearly two dozen bills to help our veterans and servicemembers.
Earlier this year, Rosen co-sponsored bipartisan legislation allowing Vietnam War-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Thailand to qualify for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, without the undue burden of proving toxic exposure that took place decades ago. Rosen also helped introduce the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation extending disability benefits associated with agent Orange exposure to veterans who served on U.S. ships off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In June, the legislation was enacted into law.
In January, Rosen helped introduce the bipartisan TRICARE Reserve Improvement Act, legislation that would bring parity to reserve servicemembers without access to TRICARE Reserve Select coverage.
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