VA’s proposed budget includes fees for certain veterans

The President’s proposed FY07 budget calls for a record $80.6 billion budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with the overwhelming majority of these resources targeted for health care and disability compensation , Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson announced . The FY '07 proposal represents an in crease of $8.8 billion, or 12.2% , above the budget for 2006.

The President’s FY ’07 budget includes two provisions that will further ensure VA is able to care for those veterans who count on it the most by asking other non-disabled, higher income veterans (Priority 7 and 8 veterans) to pay a $250 annual enrollment fee and higher pharmacy co-payments (from $8 to $15).

These veterans were not eligible to receive VA medical care at all, or only on a case-by-case space available basis, until 1999 when new authority allowed VA to enroll them in any year that resource levels permitted. They typically have other alternatives for addressing their medical care costs, including third-party health insurance coverage and Medicare, and the provisions would ask those enrolled for VA care today to assume a modest share of the cost of their care.

Note: Under no circumstances will a veteran make a co-payment of any kind for the treatment of a service-connected condition.

The FY ’07 budget proposal calls for $38.5 billion in discretionary funding -- mostly for health care. This budget contains the largest increase in discretionary funding for VA ever requested by a President. For health care alone, the President’s request is an increase of $3.5 billion (or more th an 11% ) over the FY ’06 level. The budget proposal also would provide $42.1 billion in mandatory funding, mostly for compensation, pension and other benefit programs.

FY ’07 Budget Highlights
VA will be able to care for an estimated 5.3 million patients. With this budget, the Department will continue providing world-class care for its high-priority patients, including over 100,000 veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The FY ’07 budget proposal includes $457 million for the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) program, bringing the total Department investment to nearly $3 billion since FY ‘04. The FY ’07 proposal includes funding for the continuation of medical facility projects in Long Beach, CA ; and Denver, CO , and funds new projects in American Lake, WA ; Milwaukee, WI .; Columbia, MO ; and St. Louis, MO .

The FY ’07 budget request calls for a total investment of almost $3.2 billion in mental health services, which is $339 million above this year’s level. This budget proposal ensures a full continuum of care for veterans with mental health issues, to include comprehensive treatment for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The FY ’07 budget proposal requests $1.4 billion for prosthetics and sensory aids, a $160 million increase over FY ’06.

Funding for non-institutional long-term care would increase by nearly 10 % over FY ’06, with a total investment of $535 million in the President's proposed budget.

The FY ’07 budget proposal includes over $78 million for national cemetery construction projects, including funds for cemetery expansion and improvement at Great Lakes, MI ; Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX ; and Saratoga, NY Resources are also included for the development of master plans for six new national cemeteries in Bakersfield, CA ; Birmingham, AL ; Columbia-Greenville, SC ; Jacksonville, FL ; Sarasota, FL ; and southeastern Pennsylvania. The budget also includes $32 million in grants for the construction of state veterans’ cemeteries.