American Legion
leader decries VA Secretary's 'Administrative' decision to
raise prescription co-payments, sidestepping will of the
people
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 /U.S.
Newswire/ -- Using a regulation that has gone unused since
it was written in 2001, the Secretary of the Department of
Veterans Affairs is taking steps to raise the co-payments of
millions of veterans who receive prescription drugs from VA
outpatient pharmacies.
"Trying to balance the
budget on the backs of veterans, particularly in light of
the fact that Congress, on both sides of the aisle, has
consistently turned down these increases in the budget,
pronouncing them dead on arrival is a slap in the face to
all veterans," said Thomas L. Bock, national commander of
The American Legion. "The American people have said no and
the veterans of this nation have said no each time. I assure
the Secretary that this back-door attempt to circumvent the
bipartisan support of those who served our nation with honor
will be strongly opposed by The American Legion."
After three unsuccessful
attempts to double co-payments by legislative proposal
within the annual President's Budget Request for the
Department of Veterans Affairs, this action would transfer
rising drug costs directly to veterans a dollar a month per
prescription until a doubling is achieved. Not only will all
veterans receiving medications for non-service conditions
(except Priority Group 1 - 50 percent disabled and higher)
see their prescription drug co-payments rise by $1, but
their annual out- of-pocket expenses cap will rise to $960
from $840 per year, up $120 from the previous level. If not
reversed, The American Legion believes this increase will
become an annual affair.
"To understand the impact
of this decision, let me tell you what one Legionnaire told
me just recently," Bock said. "He said, 'I take 12
medications. A cost increase in prescriptions will force me
to make some very important decisions -- a choice between
food, shelter, clothing or eliminating one of these
prescriptions. I am on Social Security, fought in Korea. I
have no pension but raised a family and did all the right
things. Why would they do this to me at this point in my
life?'"
A VA statement said the
increase is "required by law" when it is in fact totally
within the discretion of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
under Title 38 USC.
"We find it disingenuous
that VA would hold that it is 'required by federal law' to
increase co-payments when, in fact, the only thing it is
required to do is write regulations as to the mechanics of
how to raise them," Bock said. "We strongly urge Secretary
Nicholson to reconsider this 'administrative' action
particularly when it has repeatedly failed with Congress.
Our veterans deserve better."
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Founded in 1919, the 2.7
million-member American Legion is the nation's preeminent
service organization for veterans of the U.S. armed forces,
including active duty, National Guard and Reserves, and
their families. A powerful voice for veterans in Washington,
The American Legion drafted the original GI Bill and was
instrumental in establishing the agency that today is the
federal Department of Veterans Affairs.