Sen. Tester Seeks to Pay Drivers for Rural Vets' Transport

To contact us Click HERE

Tester introduces measure to let VA hire drivers for rural veterans' care

5 December 2012 - The Department of Veterans Affairs will be able to hire drivers to transport veterans to health care appointments across Montana if a measure introduced by U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., stays intact.

Tester, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, attached the measure to the Defense Authorization Bill allowing the VA to pay drivers instead of relying on volunteers, who often are in short supply in rural states like Montana and Wyoming.

“Rural veterans earned the same level of care as veterans from urban areas,” Tester said. “Providing them with reliable and efficient transportation ensures that they get the care they earned and that we live up to the promises this nation made to them.”

According to the VA, the new measure would save around $11 million each year by cutting the costs associated with contracting ambulance services or providing mileage reimbursement for vets who drive themselves to and from medical appointments. read more>>>