JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN—Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) co-introduced H.R. 3994, the Addressing Care Timelines (ACT) for Veterans Act. This bill increases the amount of time veterans have to notify the Department of Veterans Affairs of a non-VA hospital admission for emergency care. Congressman Bob Gibbs (OH-07) is the lead sponsor of the bill.

“Federal red tape should never get in the way of veterans’ health care needs. By extending the VA notification period, veterans can focus on their health rather than bureaucracy at the VA or the costs of their hospital stay. I am committed to ensuring the VA works for Southeast Wisconsin’s 45,000 veterans. I will continue working with my colleagues to help veterans obtain the benefits they’ve earned, and work to increase access to health care and mental health resources for veterans and their families,” said Steil.

Under current law, veterans who are admitted to a non-VA hospital for an emergency visit are required to notify the VA within 72 hours of stay for reimbursement. For veterans who suffer serious, life-threatening complications, this timeframe is often too short. If the veteran does not notify the VA within the 72-hour timeframe, any costs associated with the hospitalization will be automatically denied by the VA. The ACT for Veterans Act extends the notification period from 72 hours to 96 hours, giving veterans four full days to alert the VA of their non-VA emergency care hospital stay.

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