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7/11/17

The Van Drew Team Secures Funding in Budget For Vineland Veterans Memorial Home Residents

Tags: Veterans

Senator Jeff Van Drew announced today that he secured $1 million in the FY18 State Budget to fund transportation for residents of New Jersey’s state-operated veterans’ homes – including the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home – to doctor’s appointments free of charge. Money for the program had previously been eliminated for those visiting outside doctors and specialists if the veterans’ home had a doctor available to provide the care in-house.

Senator Van Drew advocated for the funding, which was included in the FY18 budget signed by the governor on July 4^th. The Fiscal Year began July 1.

“We know that a doctor-patient relationship is vital to ensuring positive health outcomes, and it is particularly critical for military veterans who are dealing with complicated injuries and trauma stemming from their service. That’s why it was so important to make sure that residents of the state-operated veterans homes can continue to see their long-time doctors, and why I’ve been working to restore this funding,” said Senator Van Drew. “The men and women living in the veterans’ homes deserve access to the best health care we can offer, and to maintain a relationship with their own doctors to provide care. I’m thrilled we were able to get funding included in the budget to reinstate free transportation for veterans at the Vineland facility, and the other two veterans’ homes in the state, to get to medical appointments. This is the right thing to do for those who put their lives on the line for us.”

Senator Van Drew, Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak and Assemblyman Bruce Land (all Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic) began working to restore funding after hearing from residents of the Vineland facility and their families, as well as local VFW and American Legion organizations, about a newly-imposed cost to residents for transportation to doctor’s appointments outside of the veterans’ home. For years, residents were able to receive the medical services of an outside physician and receive transport to the office by the veterans’ home at no charge. Last year, the state began enforcing a policy to charge residents for the trip. The $1 million will fund transportation for veterans at the three long-term care nursing homes for veterans and their spouses operated by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in Paramus, Menlo Park and Vineland.

The Vineland Veterans Memorial Home is a 300-bed residential home, providing long-term care for veterans and their spouses.