Senator Johnny Isakson is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Committee and his office issued the following Friday:
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
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Friday, August 14, 2015
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Lauren Gaydos,
202-224-9126
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***MEDIA ADVISORY***
Isakson to Hold Field Hearing on Veterans Choice in Gainesville, Ga.
“The Veterans Choice Program: Are Problems in Georgia Indicative of a National Problem?”
WASHINGTON –
The
Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny
Isakson, R-Ga., will hold an oversight field hearing on
Friday, August 21, 2015, to
examine the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) implementation of the
Veterans Choice Program and how issues Georgia veterans are experiencing
echo a larger, national problem.
At the beginning of this Congress, Isakson declared his top priority as chairman to be overseeing the implementation of the
Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act
to ensure the VA fully and efficiently utilizes the Veterans Choice
Program to improve the quality and timeliness of care. This hearing is
the third in a series of oversight
hearings on the program, which allows veterans to receive health care
outside the Department of Veterans Affairs if they meet certain
criteria.
The hearing is open to the public and
press are invited to attend. Isakson will hold a brief media
availability immediately following the hearing.
WHO:
Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Chairman
Congressman Doug Collins, R-Ga.
VA Secretary Robert McDonald
WHERE:
University of North Georgia, Gainesville Campus
Continuing Education/Performing Arts Center
Continuing Education Auditorium, Room 108
3820 Mundy Mill Rd.
Gainesville, GA 30566
WHEN:
2:00 PM
Friday, August 21, 2015
**Media availability to follow immediately after
conclusion of second panel**
See below for the witness list.
Panel I
Hon. Bob McDonald, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by:
Dr. James Tuchschmidt, Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs
Panel II
Donna Hoffmeier, Vice President, VA Services and PCCC Program Manager, HealthNet Federal Services
Dr. Stephen Jarrard, provider and veteran
Dr. Waymon Duane Williams, Georgia State Leader of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Inc.
Mr. Carlos Chacha, veteran
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The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 114th Congress.
Isakson
is a veteran himself – having served in the Georgia Air National Guard
from 1966-1972 – and has been a member of the Senate VA Committee since
he joined the Senate in 2005. Isakson’s home
state of Georgia is home to more than a dozen military installations
representing each branch of the military as well as more than 750,000
veterans.