On Thursday, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved legislation (S 3325), by Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), that would waive copayments for veterans using telehealth services, Government Executive reports.
The committee also supported an amendment to the bill that would expand the ability of health workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs to engage in collective bargaining on compensation matters.
The American Federation of Government Employees -- which represents 200,000 VA employees, most of whom work in the Veterans Health Administration -- expressed support for the bill and the amendment.
Next Steps
The measure now heads to the full Senate for a vote.
Next month, the House is slated to hold a hearing on a companion bill (HR 5543), by Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), according to an AFGE spokesperson (Newell, Government Executive, 8/6).