House appropriators were buoyed by a Veterans Affairs Department briefing that outlined how fiscal 2009 funding will be used to enroll about 265,000 vets who have been denied VA health services since 2003.

A $375 million provision was included in the fiscal 2009 VA spending bill measure (PL 110-329) to allow the department to bring into the system more “Priority 8” veterans ­ those who typically earn more than $30,000 a year.
The funding aims to expand the enrollment of Priority 8 veterans by 10 percent.
Priority 8 refers to a subcategory of veterans. Priority 1s have the most need for care and Priority 8s the least.

“Reopening the doors of the VA system to veterans who have earned these benefits sends a clear message that we honor and respect their service and sacrifice to country, ” said Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, chairman of the
House Appropriations Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
“This needed expansion of VA benefits to middle income veterans is just one example of how millions of veterans will benefit from
the historic funding increases of the last two years.”

New Priority 8 veterans were blocked from enrolling for VA benefits in January 2003 if their income exceeded approximately $30,000 annually.
Priority 8 veterans who were already enrolled in the system before January 2003 were allowed to remain in the system.

The VA told members of the subcommittee Monday that funding will be formally disbursed to VA hospitals and clinics later
this month in order to implement the new enrollment plan by June.

In the meantime, the VA will work with the Office of Management and Budget to author new regulatory authority and propose it
as a rule in the Federal Register.
As the regulatory authority is developed, the VA’s enrollment system will be modified to allow enrollment for veterans whose
income exceeds the current threshold by 10 percent or less.

Returning eligibility to Priority 8 veterans has been a priority for a number of high profile members of Congress,
including Edwards and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner, D-Calif.
President-elect Barack Obama also pledged during his campaign to return eligibility to all Priority 8 veterans.

Source: CQ Today Online News
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