Bipartisan bill eliminates barriers for older veterans to more easily claim reimbursements for medical appointments
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced the Preserving Access to Patient Reimbursement (PAPR) Act – bipartisan legislation simplifying the patient reimbursement process for veterans.
Sinema and Rubio’s bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make physical copies of travel reimbursement documents available by mail and at VA medical facilities – eliminating barriers for older veterans who may lack internet access and are in need of patient reimbursement.
“Our brave veterans risked everything to keep us safe – they shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get the benefits they’ve earned. That’s why we’re making it easier for veterans to get reimbursed for medical travel,” said Sinema, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“While the intention of the VA’s new web-based travel program may have been good, the computerized system has missed its mark and created a barrier for many of our veterans. My Preserving Access to Patient Reimbursement Act would ensure that our nation’s veterans continue to have access to paper forms,” said Rubio.
The VA reimburses veterans for travel expenses to and from medical appointments, including mileage, tolls, and parking. However, in November 2020, the VA introduced a new online travel reimbursement program to replace the system through which veterans could submit travel reimbursement claims at VA medical facilities.
This presents a challenge in Arizona, where an estimated 65,000 veterans live in rural areas and often lack the internet access needed to submit reimbursement claims through the new online system.
Sinema and Rubio’s PAPR Act corrects this harm by requiring the VA to accept paper reimbursement forms submitted by mail or in-person at all VA medical facilities – ensuring veterans are fairly compensated regardless of digital connectivity.