WASHINGTON – The Senate on Thursday approved a big boost in the budget for veterans’ medical care.
The measure, approved by a 98-0 vote, would increase spending by 21 percent, or about $4 billion, to $23.3 billion, for the budget year that begins Oct. 1. More veterans are seeking care and the cost per patient is on the rise, too.
About $2 billion of the increase was in response to a midyear request by the Bush administration. It was added to the budget as emergency funds not subject to the $843 billion budget set for the annual appropriations bills.
The Veterans Affairs Department acknowledged in April that it had underestimated medical care costs. Congress reacted by approving an additional $1.5 billion in emergency funds for the current budget year.
The agency underestimated the number of veterans, including those from Iraq and Afghanistan, who were seeking care, and the cost of treatment and long-term care.
Demand for health care services has increased by more than 5 percent over last year.
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