File photos / Courtesy of subjects
Maine's congressional delegation, from left: Collins, King, Pingree and Golden.
Updated: August 16, 2023
Fix health care travel reimbursement for veterans, Maine delegation urges
Members of Maine’s congressional delegation are calling on the Biden administration to help veterans get reimbursed for travel expenses related to health care.
In a letter Tuesday to Denis McDonough, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the lawmakers identified glitches in a system implemented more than three years ago and that poses problems for veterans seeking reimbursement.
More than 60% of Maine veterans live in rural areas, and many must travel far from home to obtain the health care to which they are entitled. But they face hurdles getting compensation for that travel, according to the letter.
Unreliable internet access and lack of computer proficiency are also obstacles to health care for Maine veterans, half of whom are over age 65.
“We write to bring to your attention obstacle veterans in Maine and across the country face in receiving mileage reimbursement” for travel to and from health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and VA-authorized care, wrote U.S. Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Susan Collins, R.-Maine, and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, and Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District.
The letter voices concerns over a new payment processing system for mileage reimbursement known as the Beneficiary Travel Self Service System, or BTSSS.
“The VA has spent billions of taxpayer dollars on its roll out, yet BTSSS is riddled with complications that negatively impact veterans,” the lawmakers said in their letter. “As we discussed in your recent trip to Maine, we strongly encourage the VA to look into the issues with BTSSS to ensure our veterans receive the best service possible.”
Earlier this month, McDonough spent two days in Maine touring VA facilities including a clinic in Rumford, the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta and the Portland VA Clinic. He then joined a panel discussion at the University of Southern Maine for the launch of a statewide effort to eradicate homelessness among veterans.
During that visit, King, Pingree and Golden voiced concerns over hurdles veterans face in receiving reimbursement for health care-related travel.
Together with Collins, they repeated those concerns in the letter, which asks whether the VA will ensure that Maine veterans have access to the previous reimbursement system until significant issues with the newer system have been property addressed.
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Anonymous
March 14, 2024
Did the delegation receive a response? Please post.
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