New legislation to better veterans health signed into law

~ susie

Congresswoman Grace Meng represents New York’s 6th congressional district in New York City. Recently though, she proposed legislation that was passed into law and will help veterans throughout the entire country.

The Act Meng proposed was the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act. It was passed on October 23. While the Act covers many issues that affect veterans, there are three main measures that will greatly benefit those that have fought for this country.

The first measure in the Act will give healthcare benefits to veterans involved in cleaning up Palomares, Spain, and on Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands during the late 1970s. Previously, it was not believed these veterans were exposed to radiation while taking part in the cleanup efforts. This prevented them from claiming disability and getting the medical assistance they need.

Now that the Act has been passed into law, however, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be required to look into how they can make filing for these benefits easier for those veterans. This will help those suffering from  cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other health conditions that radiation exposure is known to cause.

Meng also introduced a measure that will require the VA to investigate a rare cancer known as Cholangiocarcinoma and how widespread it may be among veterans, particularly those that fought in Vietnam. The cancer is caused by parasites present in raw fish in the Asian country. The VA will also be required to report back to Congress on the research efforts being made into the cancer and how it can be treated and eradicated.

Lastly, one of Meng’s measures will greatly benefit all women veterans. This measure requires the Veterans Health Administration to investigate the number of female healthcare professionals in the field. They are then to report back to Congress on their findings. The report is to include not just the number of females in the industry, but also the types of healthcare jobs they are working in, and where they are located. This will allow female veterans to be seen and treated by a female healthcare provider if they so choose.

“Veterans are one of our most underappreciated and overlooked populations,” says John S. Berry, Jr. of Berry Law Firm. “It is very encouraging that this new legislation has been passed and that any veteran will be able to get the help they need after fighting for our country.”

Stop it, you damn fool

~ susie ~ 1 Comment