Washington, D.C. (August 19, 2003) - U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) today announced that he would be holding a summit on the future of VA/DOD sharing for veterans’ healthcare services in Northwest Florida. Congressman Rob Simmons (R-CT-02), the Chairman of the Veteran’s Affairs Subcommittee on Health, will also participate in the event.
“Northwest Florida has a serious gap in the delivery of healthcare services for our veterans,” Miller said. “It is time for us to honor our commitment to those who have so proudly served this great nation and provide them the care they deserve.”
The Delegation will tour Eglin AFB Hospital and receive briefings from the Biloxi Veterans Administration Medical Center as well as the Pensacola Naval Hospital. They will then participate in a VA-DoD Health Care hearing, a fact-finding mission with area health care providers, both government and private. The summit will include the testimony from a panel of witnesses of the best ways to address the primary care and acute hospital access gap for vets in the First District of Florida. Congressmen Miller and Simmons will receive testimony regarding the co-sharing agreements, expanding services currently provided via joint ventures, and other options, such as expanding contracts with private hospitals, and modeling receipt of VA health care benefits in civilian facilities similar to that of TRICARE.
“It’s truly an honor to have Chairman Simmons take time out of his schedule to see the state of veterans’ healthcare in our community first hand,” Miller added. “I applaud his efforts and look forward to working with the chairman on improving services in our area.”
Miller said the summit would take place at 1:30 p.m. at the auditorium at Okaloosa Walton Community College’s Forth Walton Beach Campus. Constituents are encouraged to attend and view the proceedings, and they may submit written remarks for the record after the summit.
The official delegation is expected to include: The Honorable Jeff Miller (R, FL-01), The Honorable Rob Simmons (R, CT-02), The Honorable Robert H. Roswell, M.D., Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Julie Catellier, Director, Biloxi Veterans Administration Medical Center, Mr. John Bradley, Staff Director, Health Subcommittee, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Ms. Stacy Zelenski, Research Assistant, Health Subcommittee, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Greg Parker Biloxi VAMC, and Dr. Andrus, Pensacola Community Based Outpatient Clinic.
VA/DOD Healthcare Summit
Tuesday, August 19th
1:30 p.m.
Okaloosa Walton Community College
Forth Walton Beach Campus,
Building 8, The Auditorium
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