Allred Bill to Close Coverage Gap in VA Emergency Transportation Services Passes House with Bipartisan Support

November 12, 2019
Press Release

Washington, D.C. – As part of a package of women veterans health bills, the House passed the VA Newborn Emergency Treatment Act, a bipartisan bill by Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32), a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The legislation clarifies that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can cover the costs of emergency medical transportation for newborn babies of certain women veterans. The bill passed with bipartisan support this evening as part of HR 3224, the Deborah Sampson Act.

"This bill closes an unnecessary gap in coverage, and helps keep our promise to veterans so parents and their babies can get emergency transportation costs covered by the VA," said Allred. "As a new dad, I know how important it is that new parents get access to the services they need, and this bill takes a good step in helping our veteran parents. I am glad we took bipartisan action for our veterans today and I thank Congresswoman Brownley for her leadership on this issue."

"The Deborah Sampson Act is a result of several hearings, roundtables, site visits, and meetings with women veterans across the country to identify opportunities and barriers they face and will address many of the inequities and barriers that the Women Veterans Task Force has identified," said Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force. "I thank Congressman Allred for his leadership on this issue. I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that we are supporting and honoring women veterans and transforming VA so that all of our nation's veterans receive the benefits and services they have earned and deserve."

The VA Newborn Emergency Treatment Act does the following:

  • Ensures that qualified newborns get access to VA covered medical care
  • Expands the seven days of VA provided newborn medical care (through a waiver process) for a medically necessary extension
  • Streamlines billing process to remove unnecessary burdens on veterans
  • Waives any outstanding debts associated with medically-necessary emergency transportation services for a newborn incurred by the veteran