VA Funding
Nearly five months into Fiscal Year (FY) 2004, Congress finally
passed an appropriation for VA. Included in this $64 billion budget
are $28.4 billion for health care and $522 million in construction,
most of which will be used to begin projects identified in Phase
II of the Capital Asset Realignment of Enhanced Services (CARES).
President Bush’s FY 2005 budget request was released in
early February. He seeks $67.7 billion for VA. This requested
amount includes $29.5 billion for medical care, including $2.4
billion in estimated third-party health insurance and co-payments.
The requests also include a proposal to institute a "user
fee" of $250 per year for Priority Category 7 and 8 veterans
(individuals with incomes above a certain income threshold who
are not receiving benefits for service-connected disabilities)
as well as an increase in co-payments of $7-$15 for pharmacy benefits
for veterans in the two categories.
Also proposed is the elimination of pharmacy co-payments for
veterans in Priority Categories 2 through 5 with incomes between
$9,894 and $16,509. If approved, the proposal would end hospice
co-payments and all co-payments for former prisoners of war. It
would also authorize VA to pay for emergency room care or urgent
care for enrolled veterans in non-VA medical facilities.
Mansfield Sworn in as VA Deputy Secretary
Gordon H. Mansfield was sworn in on February 19, 2004 as VA Deputy
Secretary. Mansfield was nominated for the position in late December
2003 following the resignation of Dr. Leo McKay.
A practicing attorney prior to his government service, Mansfield
has been with VA since August 2001, previously serving as VA’s
Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs.
Before moving to VA, Mansfield served as Executive Director of
the Paralyzed Veterans of America from 1993 to 2001. He was Assistant
Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the Department
of Housing and Urban Development from 1989 to 1993.
The Deputy Secretary is VA’s second-highest post and oversees
the day-to-day operations of the department.
"Gordon has been and will continue to be a consummate advocate
for veterans," said Tom Miller. "We are fortunate that
an individual of his character and dedication will be working
on our behalf."
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