Sunday, August 16, 2015

Isakson to Hold Field Hearing on Veterans Choice in Gainesville, Ga. “The Veterans Choice Program: Are Problems in Georgia Indicative of a National Problem?”



isakson



Senator Johnny Isakson is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Committee and his office issued  the following Friday:





FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
Contact: Amanda Maddox, 202-224-7777
Friday, August 14, 2015
Lauren Gaydos, 202-224-9126
 
 
 
***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.