government
Veterans care bill signed into law
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 8, 2010
President Obama on Feb. 1 signed a measure requiring the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to pay for the cost of veterans' emergency care at non-VA facilities.
If a veteran has third-party insurance, the law requires the VA to pay any remaining cost. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the statute will result in 700 new claims annually between 2010 and 2014, at a cost to the government of $5 million. The measure was sponsored by House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chair Bob Filner (D, Calif.).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/08/gvbf0208.htm.