Despite backlog of veterans' claims, VA using resources to help illegal immigrants | Just The News
By: Kevin Killough (Just The News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
With hundreds of thousands of veterans' healthcare claims on backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), top Republicans in the House and Senate are hoping to prevent VA resources from being used to process claims for medical care of illegal immigrants.
According to a July report from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency contracts with the VA to process medical claims reimbursements involving illegal immigrants even though they did not serve in the U.S. military. Medical professionals treat illegal immigrants detained by ICE on site, but when specialized or emergency care is required, they are transported to private providers, according to Fox News. The arrangement between ICE and the VA was outlined in a 2020 memo during the Trump administration, Fox News reported.
According to the ICE report, in fiscal year 2022, the VA processed healthcare claims for illegal immigrants totaling more than $63.6 million in medical services. That number is expected to rise in fiscal year 2023, the report explains, because providers have one year after the date of service to submit claims.
Terrence Hayes, spokesperson for the VA, told Fox News that the VA doesn't provide any healthcare services to individuals who ICE detains. All healthcare expenses are paid for and provided by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Health Service Corps, he said.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., in October pressed the VA to address a backlog of more than 300,000 claims, meaning they've been pending for more than 125 days. That number, according to a statement from Spanberger, is expected to increase in 2024 to over 400,000 as a result of expanded healthcare benefits to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their military service.
At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs in November, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., chair of the committee, questioned the panel of Biden administration officials about what role the VA was taking in healthcare provided to illegal immigrants.
Derrick Jaastad, executive director of the Office of Emergency Management for the Veterans Health Administration, said that part of the agency's mission is taking care of federal interagency partners. As an example, he said that it administered thousands of COVID vaccines.
We are "taking care of our colleagues in uniform in the Customs and Border Patrol," Jaastad explained, but he didn't state if any VA resources were being used in the course of providing healthcare to illegals. The CPB does have a program designed to assist its agents who are veterans, called the "Veteran Support Program," but that assistance is exclusively for vets who also served with CPB.
Tuberville introduced legislation this month to stop VA resources from being used to provide taxpayer-funded healthcare to illegal immigrants. "Joe Biden is putting illegal immigrants over America's veterans. It is outrageous. Our veterans should not be forced to wait in long lines at VA medical centers and clinics to get the care they earned while illegal immigrants waltz across our open border and get taxpayer-funded healthcare they never earned," Tuberville said in a statement.
The Concerned Veterans of America (CVA) criticized the use of VA resources to process the claims at a time veterans are having trouble getting the care they need. "The VA is spending a significant portion of time and manpower managing care for noncitizens who didn't earn it. But the problem is less about who is getting the care and more about who is not," the organization said in a statement on the issue.
According to the group, documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, VA staff are misleading and discouraging veterans from using community care options when the VA can't meet standards for wait times. Russ Duerstine, executive director of CVA, said in the statement that the Biden administration is failing "our nation's heroes," by failing to provide timely health care and putting up obstacles to veterans in need.
In addition to the lack of services for veterans, "the VA has paved the way for unauthorized migrants and non-citizens to easily use community care intended for veterans. This betrays the veterans who earned care through their blood, sweat, and tears," Duerstine said.
At a press conference on immigration reform earlier this month, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., criticized President Biden for putting the needs of illegal immigrants over those of America's veterans. "Veterans have a hard enough time getting the care that they need and now they have to compete with illegal immigrants? This will not fix the border crisis. Biden's border crisis puts illegal immigrants first, it puts our veterans last," Daines said.
Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., who is chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee introduced a House companion bill to Tuberville's. "Joe Biden's failed border policies have created a humanitarian and national security crisis. Now it appears he's taking resources away from our veterans to facilitate healthcare for illegal migrants," Bost, said in a statement announcing the legislation. "As a Marine, I believe any dollar taken away from a veteran is a promise broken to those who served."
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We've already seen Traitor Joe could care less for our military, Veterans, or US Citizens.
Biden tried to do this once before during the pandemic and the public outrage was so great he and his minions had to backtrack and not follow through. I guess he thinks he can get away with it this time. As a vet who uses the VA system here in SE AZ, I have had great service from the Sierra Vista VA Clinic here in Cochise County on the border.
I do remember that. They reversed their decision very quickly amidst the backlash.
Like you, I'm a vet that uses the VA. I live and work around Fort Bragg, NC (the largest vet population in the country) and they somehow manage. Although we now have 2 VA facilities in the area.
Me too but I live in a more rural area. Passing Veterans Choice/consolidated community care program made all the difference in the world for those of us not living near a VA facility.
They just recently built the second facility in Fayetteville, NC to handle the volume.
Despicable but nothing new. The Fed has a bad habit of shirking the responsibility it has to us Veterans. Makes one wonder ….
Seems like more and more promises to vets are being broken every day.
Two important statements - to me at least -
"The VA is spending a significant portion of time and manpower managing care for noncitizens who didn't earn it. But the problem is less about who is getting the care and more about who is not,"
"Veterans have a hard enough time getting the care that they need and now they have to compete with illegal immigrants? This will not fix the border crisis. Biden's border crisis puts illegal immigrants first, it puts our veterans last,"
U. S. Citizens, under the Dem/Lib administration, have lost their citizenship which has been transferred to the Illegal Alien population.
Why have WE allowed this to happen?
I don't see how the VA has a 300,000 - 400,000 case backlog. Paul Krugman told us:
Krugman doesn't deal in facts- he deals in leftist narrative.
No he does not …
Unlike Fox propaganda?
Not so - I use the VA system here in NM and am extremely impressed with their work and dedication.
As do I, I thank them for their service to all vets!
VA to address a backlog of more than 300,000 claims,
Claims not cases. The VA is handling the cases but has a backlog on claims for reimbursement.
Fair point.
That doesn't change anything. The people who are supposed to be handling VETERAN claims are now working to get the illegals done.
Fair point.
Joe Biden and Mayor Eric Adams (who constantly whines and cries about illegal aliens flooding his city) should be proud that they're kicking out our elderly veterans so they can provide free housing for their illegal aliens.
Guess how all branches of the military are going to resolve the problem of recruitment shortfalls. Bet we start hearing the refrain that we need more immigrants to do the work Americans won't do.
Se todo lo que puedas ser. (Be all that you can be.)
Lots of “military age” males crossing the border ……
Fodder is fodder. The military brass will create DEI quotas as an excuse, too. Just look at how woke the Marines have become.
Yeah, it’s disconcerting to say the least. But with Milley gone and perhaps a new president, there is always hope.
I noticed not one word defending Biden on this from our leftist liberals here on NT. It will be interesting to see them try to defend this.
Maybe 'cause most of them didn't serve???
(Asking for a friend)
Yep.
It does seem odd because of this in the article:
The arrangement between ICE and the VA was outlined in a 2020 memo during the Trump administration, Fox News reported.
This alone should've been used to claim it was Trump that did this not Biden, of course the next question should be "If that is so, then why didn't Biden end the practice?"
Things that make you go hhmmm.
Probably because Biden and his minions did not think it was in the best interests of their agenda to do so.