Gallego Bill Waiving Copayments for Native American and Alaska Native Veterans Takes Effect
Phoenix, AZ – Today, Rep. Gallego celebrated the Department of Veterans Affairs announcement that eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans are no longer required to make copayments for health care and urgent care received through VA, a move estimated to impact approximately 25,000 American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. The rule was established by Rep. Gallego’s Native American Veteran Parity in Access to Care Today Act, which was included in the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.
“I am incredibly excited to finally see my legislation eliminating copays for Native American and Alaska Native veterans take effect,” said Rep. Gallego. “Native Americans and Alaskan Natives have fought in conflicts on behalf of the United States for generations, and serve at higher rates than any other demographic group. Unfortunately, while we have long guaranteed free health care at Indian Health Service and Tribal health facilities, these veterans could not expect the same at VA facilities. That changes today, and I am incredibly proud to have secured this long overdue policy change for Native veterans in Arizona and across the country.”
Prior to the Gallego rule’s implementation, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) had a practice of charging Native American and Alaska Native veterans a copayment for receiving care at the VHA. America's trust and treaty obligations guarantee Native Americans access to health care free of cost and accordingly, they are not charged copays at federally-funded Indian Health Service and Tribal health facilities. Despite this, Native veterans who seek care at the VHA are currently subject to out-of-pocket costs, creating what was a discrepancy between the two federally-funded sources of health care for Native Americans.
Under the new policy, the VA will reimburse copayments paid on or after Jan. 5, 2022 and waive future copayments for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans.