U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., who served more than a decade as an Army surgeon, scored a win last week as his “Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery (VICTOR) Act” cleared the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee.
Dunn’s proposal would give veterans needing organ transplants more access, allowing those who live 100 miles or more from VA transplant centers have their procedures done at other medical facilities though it would need to be federally certified and cover Medicare patients. Noting the current policy, Dunn pointed to his own district, which includes parts of the Big Bend, as an area where veterans would benefit from his legislation. For veterans in Dunn’s district, the nearest VA facility that performs organ transplants is in Nashville
The North Florida Republican congressman, who was elected to Congress for the first time back in November, brought out his bill back in May.
“As a surgeon and a veteran, I believe this is good medicine and good public policy,” Dunn said on Thursday after the committee passed his bill. “The status quo puts roadblocks in front of veterans who need life-saving transplant care. The VICTOR Act eliminates these roadblocks and increases access to the care our veterans have earned.”
So far, Dunn has reeled in almost 30 co-sponsors including three from the Sunshine State as Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, who is the vice-chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Dennis Ross and John Rutherford are backing his proposal. So is U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn,, the chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee.
“Arcane rules should not prohibit veterans from receiving lifesaving care such as an organ transplant,” Roe said after the vote. “I applaud Rep. Dunn for his leadership on this legislation that would enable veterans who aren’t able to access care at a VA transplant center to seek care in the community, and I look forward to continuing to move this important bill through the legislative process.”
For his part, Dunn was happy to have Roe‘s support.
“We owe it to our veterans to give them every chance to obtain a transplant, and more years with their loved ones. I commend Chairman Roe for moving this important legislation through committee,” Dunn said.
So far, there is no similar proposal over in the Senate.
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Neal Dunn Wants Veterans Needing Organ Transplants to Have More Options