Van Orden, Pappas Introduce Bill to Require VA to Provide Timely Equitable Relief for Administrative Errors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) introduced the Expedited Equitable Relief Act, which will require Veterans Affairs (VA) to accelerate the delivery of equitable relief for veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries to no later than 120 days after an administrative error is identified. The introduction of this legislation comes after Kimberly Mozuch, a Third District constituent, was left with significant debt following a VA administrative error on her husband’s medical bills and was informed she would have to wait up to a year to have the debt cleared.

In February, Mrs. Mozuch contacted Congressman Van Orden’s office about the tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills she received from the Tomah VA Medical Center for her husband’s care and treatment. Representatives at the Tomah VA Medical Center then contacted the Congressman’s office admitting to an administrative error on the medical bills sent to Mrs. Mozuch. Through his efforts, the Congressman was able to work with representatives at Tomah VA to cancel the debt. Congressman Van Orden has raised the issue to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Under Secretary and Secretary.

“We have a duty to take care of our veterans,” said Congressman Van Orden. “The last thing they should be worried about is unexpected or incorrect issuances of thousands of dollars of debt. The Expedited Equitable Relief Act will ensure that no one else will be held accountable for VA’s errors besides VA and that they must rectify those mistakes in a timely manner.”

“Veterans and their families should never face prolonged financial stress from administrative errors at VA,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Van Orden to reform VA’s processes for providing quick relief to those wrongly penalized. By ensuring that family members and spouses are made whole in a timely and fair fashion by VA, we continue to honor and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed for our country.”

To read the full bill text, click here.