Bill Text: NJ AR216 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to authorize VA to utilize hospitals, such as Bergen Regional Medical Center, for veteran medical care and services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR216 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR216-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIM EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to authorize VA to utilize hospitals, such as Bergen Regional Medical Center, for veteran medical care and services.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to authorize the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to work in partnership with hospitals, such as Bergen Regional Medical Center, to provide medical care and services to veterans.
Whereas, United States military veterans have served this country with honor and dignity, putting their lives on the line, and at a minimum, they deserve timely quality health care; and
Whereas, According to surveys, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides care to more than 200,000 veterans a day and while veterans may receive quality care at VA hospitals, there is concern regarding how long veterans have to wait before they can receive that care; and
Whereas, Bergen County, New Jersey is home to the Paramus Veteran's Memorial Home and located in the same area is Bergen Regional Medical Center, known for its comprehensive set of quality services, including long term care, behavioral health care, and acute care; and
Whereas, Bergen Regional Medical Center would be a wise choice for the VA to partner with because they can provide medical services commonly associated with veterans such as treatment for depression, post traumatic stress, and addiction; and
Whereas, Bergen Regional Medical Center is able to fulfill numerous additional health care needs in one convenient place, offering surgery, physical rehabilitation, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, mammography, physical and occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and other services; and
Whereas, Bergen Regional Medical Center treats everyone from children to geriatric patients, and veterans and their families could be treated at the same facility and at the same time, allowing the family to maintain a familial bond and provide additional support to the veteran; and
Whereas, Quicker and more convenient access to medical care could improve the lives of the veterans who selflessly served this country; and
Whereas, It is in the best interest of our veterans for Congress to authorize the VA to partner with hospitals, such as Bergen Regional Medical Center to provide timely quality medical care and services to veterans; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges Congress to authorize the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to work in partnership with hospitals, such as Bergen Regional Medical Center, to provide medical care and services to veterans.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, to each member of Congress elected from this State, to the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and to the President of Bergen Regional Medical Center.
STATEMENT
This Assembly Resolution urges Congress to authorize the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work in partnership with hospitals, such as Bergen Regional Medical Center, for veteran medical care and services.
United States military veterans have served with honor and dignity, putting their lives on the line for this country, and at a minimum, they deserve timely quality health care. Congress should authorize the VA to utilize the services of hospitals, such as Bergen Regio nal Medical Center, to ease the burden and the backlog of the VA, and to reduce the travel and wait times of veterans.
Bergen Regional Medical Center is located in Paramus, New Jersey, and is known for its comprehensive set of quality services, including long term care, behavioral health care, and acute care. The medical center provides treatment for depression, post traumatic stress and other mental health concerns, and for addiction, including inpatient detoxification, residential treatment, and partial hospital programming and intensive outpatient programming. In addition, the center treats everyone from children to geriatric patients. Veterans and their family members could be treated at the same facility and at the same time, allowing the family to maintain a familial bond and provide additional support to the veteran. Quicker and more convenient access to medical care could improve the lives of the veterans who selflessly served this country.
