White House Announces Unified Service Health Records
AMVETS and the veterans’ community applaud the Administration on historic step to ensuring seamless veterans’ health care

Lanham, Md., April 9, 2009—Today, President Barack Obama announced the creation of a unified electronic health record for all U.S. service members during a press conference at the White House. AMVETS, who was on hand for a morning meeting and the press conference, was happy to hear the President’s plan to deliver seamless care to America’s veterans.

“AMVETS has been calling for Department of Defense and VA to work on a single, unified health record for more than a decade,” said AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley. “This new electronic record will help ensure that no veterans fall through the cracks once they’re discharged from active duty.”

The President announced the new health record plan alongside Defense Secretary Robert Gates and VA Secretary Erik Shinseki, who helped to build the proposal. The President said that the new records will follow service members throughout their lives from the time they join the military and seamlessly into the VA system.

“Historically, the onus for enrolling in the VA system has fallen on the service member once they come off active duty,” said Kelley. “Now, troops’ medical records will automatically make it into the VA, ensuring the most timely and sufficient health care for all veterans.”

The President also took the time to praise America’s service members for their sacrifices, called for Congress to approve advanced VA appropriations as part of the FY2010 budget, and ensured the veterans’ community that the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill would roll out on time.

AMVETS has worked with the White House and Congress to ensure veterans’ programs remain at the forefront of the national discourse, and proposed viable alternative solutions to the Office of Management and Budget’s controversial third-party billing proposal.

AMVETS will continue to monitor the budget process for FY2010 to ensure that all programs are funded properly and implemented in a timely manner, including the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and last summer’s provision from the Higher Education Act calling for student-veterans’ centers of excellence on college campuses nationwide.

About AMVETS:    
A leader since 1944 in preserving the freedoms secured by America’s armed forces, AMVETS provides support for veterans and the active military in procuring their earned entitlements, as well as community service and legislative reform that enhances the quality of life for this nation’s citizens and veterans alike. AMVETS is one of the largest congressionally-chartered veterans’ service organizations in the United States, and includes members from each branch of the military, including the National Guard and Reserves. To learn more visit www.amvets.org.

Media Contact:

National
Publications Editor
Jay Agg
(301)-683-4035
jagg@amvets.org

Deputy Communications Director
Ryan Gallucci
(301)683-4073
rgallucci@amvets.org