The United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs - Hearing: VA Health Care in Rural Areas

The Senate Committee on Veteran’s Affairs held a hearing on June 16th to discuss veteran’s access to health care in rural areas.  At the hearing, Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) made the following remarks in his opening statement, “Expanding the use of telehealth technologies, rural outreach centers, mobile clinics, and other options will help us make health care accessible to more veterans and reduce the burden on those living in rural areas.”

Additionally, Adrian Atizado, Assistant National Legislative Director for the Disabled American Veterans, stated that “Expansion of telehealth would allow VA to directly evaluate and follow veterans without their needing to personally travel great distances to VA medical centers.  VA has reported it has begun to use internet resources to provide limited information to veterans in their own homes, including up-to-date research information, access to their personal health records, and online ability to refill prescription medications.”

Click here to listen to the audio from the Hearing.