Congresswoman Lauren Underwood's Legislation to Reduce Healthcare Costs for Veterans Passes House of Representatives

Strategic Insights -

Congresswoman Lauren Underwood's (IL-14) bipartisan legislation to reduce COVID-19-related healthcare costs for veterans has successfully passed the House of Representatives. The legislation, which ensures that veterans will not be liable for out-of-pocket costs for preventive services related to the novel coronavirus, including an eventual vaccine, aims to provide quality and affordable healthcare to those who have served the country. The Heroes Act, which includes this legislation, passed on May 15, and is co-led by Senators Tammy Duckworth, Susan Collins, Jon Tester, and Representatives Julia Brownley, Lee Zeldin, and Brian Fitzpatrick.

Key Takeaways:

  • The legislation aims to reduce COVID-19-related healthcare costs for veterans, ensuring they are not liable for out-of-pocket costs for preventive services related to the novel coronavirus, including an eventual vaccine.
  • The legislation passed as part of the Heroes Act on May 15, a bipartisan bill that addresses the public health crisis and provides support for families, essential workers, and small businesses.
  • The No Coronavirus Copays for Veterans Act corrects a loophole in the CARES Act, which waived copays for qualifying items, services, or immunizations, but only for Medicare beneficiaries and privately insured individuals.
  • The legislation is co-led by Senators Tammy Duckworth, Susan Collins, Jon Tester, and Representatives Julia Brownley, Lee Zeldin, and Brian Fitzpatrick.
  • This is the second piece of legislation introduced by Underwood to lower healthcare costs for veterans and eliminate copays faced by veterans.
  • The Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act (H.R. 3932) would ensure parity by removing copay requirements for preventive services and medications recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Sources:

  • Office of Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood
  • Biden Administration's CARES Act (March 2020)
  • Underwood, L. (2020). No Coronavirus Copays for Veterans Act.
  • Underwood, L. (2020). Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act (H.R. 3932).