Bill raises VA mileage rate to 41.5 cents

[unhappycamper]

Bill raises VA mileage rate to 41.5 cents
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 25, 2008 5:08:08 EDT

The mileage reimbursement rate would increase to 41.5 cents a mile for veterans traveling to Veterans Affairs Department medical centers under a compromise reached by House and Senate appropriators.

The increase from the current rate of 28.5 cents a mile is part of a $72.9 billion fiscal 2009 military construction and veterans affairs spending bill that lawmakers are hoping to pass this week.

The compromise also provides for increasing enrollment of Priority 8 veterans in VA health care. These are the lowest-priority veterans for VA care, those with medical conditions that are not service-connected and who have at least moderate incomes. It is estimated that about half of all uninsured veterans are Priority 8 veterans, who have not been allowed to enroll since 2003 as part of an effort to cut costs.

Among other things, the bill adds:

• About 2,000 claims processors to reduce a large backlog of benefits claims and the processing time for new claims.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/military_va_mileagereimbursement_092408w/%2e