PASSED: Bipartisan Bill Championed by Senator Reverend Warnock to Increase Transparency for VA Health Care Passes Senate

Press Release

This week, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 5754, the Patient Advocate Tracker Act, bipartisan legislation that has been championed in the Senate by U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA). The bill will increase transparency and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans who report concerns they experience with VA health care services. Senator Reverend Warnock introduced a version of this bill in the Senate with U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA); Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) led the version that was introduced in the House of Representatives.

"This legislation will help strengthen transparency within the VA and improve health care for our veterans--that's a win-win for Georgia, where one in ten residents is connected to our military," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "As the proud son of a veteran and a voice for Georgia's veterans in the Senate, I'm going to keep fighting to ensure our nation is doing everything we can to take care of and honor our veterans."

The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create an electronic system specifically for veterans to submit complaints regarding the healthcare services they receive. The system will allow a veteran to file a complaint electronically with the patient advocate and view the status of the complaint, including interim and final actions that have been taken. The current patient advocate tracking system (PATS) allows for tracking and reporting complaints by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but not for the patient. Creating a tracking system for veterans to see where their complaint is in the reporting process will allow for fewer frustrations and increased transparency at the VA.

A stalwart champion for Georgia's veterans, military families and servicemembers, Senator Warnock recently helped to pass the PACT Act, the largest expansion of veteran's health benefits in decades. Senator Warnock has introduced legislation to upgrade standards of care in veterans' homes, and has demanded action from the VA to address a mail pile-up at the Atlanta VA that persisted for over a year. Senator Warnock previously worked to successfully pass his bill to study disparities in access to VA benefits, which is now signed into law. And, Senator Warnock has also recently introduced a legislative package to bolster affordable military housing for servicemembers and their families.

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