Noteboom The Law Firm

A Quick Look at the Bill of Rights for Injured and Amputee Veterans

Bob Filner (D-CA) is a ranking Democratic member of the House Committee On Veterans Affairs. Filner recently introduced H.R. 5730, which not only creates a new Bill of Rights for injured and amputee veterans, but would place new requirements on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Filner's legislation would instruct the VA to exhibit the newly constructed Bill of Rights for Injured and amputee veterans in every VA-operated orthotic and prosthetic (O&P), and properly train those clinic's employees.

This bill was born out of the idea all veterans seeking health care from the VA health care system deserve consistent and fair treatment. The bill was considered at the House VA Health Subcommittee hearing on April 15.

Among others, the bills' list of supporters included: 

 

·      The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and             Prosthetics (NAAOP);

·      The Disabled American Veterans (DAV);

·      The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA); and

·      The American Legion.

 

Without a clearly established set of standards for care across the VA health care system, veterans seeking O&P care will not receive the care they deserve. Veterans with musculoskeletal injuries seeking care for their prosthetic and orthotic needs must be able to maintain a certain level of expectation for the care they will receive.

Every veteran deserves the best possible care the VA can provide, and this Bill of Rights will outline what that care is to be for injured and amputee veterans. Only time will tell what form this bill will take if it is passed.