releases: https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-urges-house-va-committee-help-maine-s-rural-veterans-0
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-urges-house-va-committee-help-maine-s-rural-veterans-0 | Poliquin Urges House VA Committee to Help Maines Rural Veterans | 2015-11-12 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | ME | Bruce Poliquin | P000611 | poliquin.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON On Tuesday, Maines Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, sent a letter to House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman, Jeff Miller, and Ranking Member, Corrine Brown, urging them to make the ARCH program permanent and to incorporate the best lessons learned from ARCH into any Choice reform legislation. In 2011, Congress appropriated funds to allow for a pilot program under the Veterans Administration, known as Project ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home). This program selected five hospitals located in rural areas across the United States to enter into contracts with the VA so that eligible veterans could receive care closer to home. One of those locations was at Cary Medical Center in Caribou, Maine. This program has proven to be a huge success. Last month, Congressman Poliquin introduced the Helping our Rural Veterans Receive Health Care Act, which would make ARCH permanent and expand it across the country to all eligible Veterans. In the letter to Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Brown, Congressman Bruce Poliquin wrote, Our Veterans have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Honoring their service is one of the greatest responsibilities for Members of Congress. That is why I was pleased to recently introduce the Helping our Rural Veterans Receive Health Care Act. In a time when so many VA programs have come under scrutiny for mismanagement, this unique public-private partnership is a successful and common-sense solution to ensure our rural Veterans receive the care we have promised them. The following is the text of the letter: Dear Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Brown: Thank you for your continued efforts to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that our Veterans receive the benefits and care that they deserve. Our Veterans have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Honoring their service is one of the greatest responsibilities for Members of Congress. That is why I was pleased to recently introduce the Helping our Rural Veterans Receive Health Care Act. This bill would make the ARCH pilot program permanent and expand it to eligible Veterans across the country by allowing non-VA hospitals and other medical facilities to enter into pre-negotiated contracts with the VA to provide care to our Veterans. In a time when so many VA programs have come under scrutiny for mismanagement, this unique public-private partnership is a successful and common-sense solution to ensure our rural Veterans receive the care we have promised them. As you know, the ARCH program has received not only bipartisan support but has exceeded the expectations of rural Veterans and their families whose needs often require immediate attention. The pilot program has also significantly reduced the average waiting time of care from 90 days to 30 days at each of the designated sites. In Maine alone, over 10,000 Veterans have benefitted from the programs accessibility. As the Veterans Affairs Committee continues to work to reform programs such as the Choice program, I encourage you to make the ARCH program permanent, as well as incorporate the best practices that we have learned from the successful ARCH program into other programs, such as Choice. The ARCH program creates an efficient benefits network that reduces waiting time, offers high quality care, and is easily accessible. This is what our Veterans deserve and allows us to express gratitude for their service to our country. When service members return to civilian life, it is imperative that they receive excellent and timely health care. They have served our great nation with honor, and we must fulfill our promise to them. I have attached a copy of my bill with hopes that you will incorporate its language into any legislation that the committee drafts to reform the health care that we give to our Veterans | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |