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Allred Introduces VA Newborn Emergency Treatment Act, Closes Coverage Gap in Emergency Transportation Services

May 15, 2019

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32), a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, today introduced the VA Newborn Emergency Treatment Act. The bill clarifies that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can cover the costs of transportation for newborn babies of certain women veterans.

"Keeping our promises to veterans does not just include providing good, quality health care, it includes making sure veteran parents and their babies can get emergency transportation covered by the VA," said Congressman Allred. "Let's close this unnecessary gap in coverage, and get this done."

"New moms should never have to worry about surprise bills when it comes to caring for their newborns, especially when dealing with an emergency situation," said Congresswoman Brownley, Chairwoman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee's Women Veterans Task Force and the Subcommittee on Health. "Closing unnecessary gaps in care like this is a top priority for the Women Veterans Task Force, and I look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Allred to move this bill forward."

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

Allred's record on health care:

Allred passed a bipartisan resolution on January 9 that authorized the House to intervene as a party in the Texas lawsuit seeking to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He also passed a bipartisan resolution in April condemning the Trump Administration's effort to repeal the ACA in its entirety.

Allred is a cosponsor of the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act of 2019. A bill that will stabilize the individual health care marketplace, reverse partisan sabotage of the ACA and bring down health care costs for consumers.


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