HCR 1 – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
6Mar2013… 0264h
2013 SESSION
04/09
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1
A RESOLUTION urging Congress to fund the development and implementation of a comprehensive health care delivery system to enhance the level of specialty care for New Hampshire's veterans.
SPONSORS: Rep. Baldasaro, Rock 5; Rep. LeBrun, Hills 32; Rep. Kotowski, Merr 24; Rep.?Tamburello, Rock 5; Rep. Kappler, Rock 3; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr 11; Rep.?Theberge, Coos 3; Rep. R. Ober, Hills 37; Rep. Weyler, Rock 13; Rep.?Griffin, Rock 7
COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
This resolution urges Congress to fund the development and implementation of a comprehensive health care delivery system to enhance the level of specialty care for New Hampshire’s veterans.
6Mar2013… 0264h
13-0459
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen
A RESOLUTION urging Congress to fund the development and implementation of a comprehensive health care delivery system to enhance the level of specialty care for New Hampshire's veterans.
Whereas, New Hampshire is a proud and patriotic state with approximately 131,000 veterans with the majority over the age of 65 who have served their country bravely and risked their lives to preserve our country’s freedom and democracy, and their sacrifices on our behalf are deserving of an upgraded medical delivery system to meet their health care needs; and
Whereas, New Hampshire is largely a rural state with limited access to the interstate highway system requiring veterans residing in many rural communities who may be ill and elderly to travel many miles to appointments for even minor procedures often placing undue and unnecessary stress on sick or injured veterans and their families; and
Whereas, many New Hampshire veterans residing in rural communities frequently miss essential checkups and therapies due to inclement weather and lack of proper transportation; and
Whereas, timely medical treatment would improve the overall health and quality of life of veterans by preventing numerous strokes, by-passes, amputations, and other costly but preventable conditions; and
Whereas, many New Hampshire veterans over the age of 65 do not have access to a primary care provider; and
Whereas, veterans residing in rural communities deserve the same level of care as veterans residing in other areas of the state; and
Whereas, New Hampshire is one of only 2 states in the nation without a full-service hospital, requiring veterans to travel to Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island for medical treatment; and
Whereas, adequate care of our veterans should be the concern of all Americans; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the New Hampshire legislature respectfully urges the Congress of the United States and the Department of Veterans Affairs to fulfill the Department’s goal of providing excellence in patient care by increasing the types of and access to specialty care at a full service VA Manchester Medical Center, or by developing a pilot program to utilize a veteran’s medical card for use in New?Hampshire’s medical facilities in order to provide better care to veterans residing in rural areas, or by the establishment of additional community based outpatient clinics, outpatient clinics, or vet centers as justified by veterans’ medical and mental health needs along with greater use of mobile clinics, and where cost effective, enter into contract services with the goal of increasing services and reducing travel time to ensure access to health care is available when it is needed;
That the house clerk forward official copies of this resolution to the President of the United?States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and to all the members of the New?Hampshire congressional delegation with the request that this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a high priority for the Congress of the United States of America.