Lawmakers slam veterans health bill cost estimate

[riky]

Lawmakers slam veterans health bill cost estimate

<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/lawmakers-slam-veterans-health-bill-cost-estimate-003149830--business.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/8JU3nwVYPSHJOz164JbXaA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9NzU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2014-06-25T003149Z_1_LYNXMPEA5O011_RTROPTP_2_USA-VETERANS-INVESTIGATION.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller talks to reporters after a news conference to call for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign, on Capitol Hill in Washington" align="left" title="House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller talks to reporters after a news conference to call for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign, on Capitol Hill in Washington" border="0" /></a>By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cost estimates of up to $50 billion a year for a veterans emergency medical care bill drew sharp criticism on Tuesday from lawmakers who said they were grossly inflated and would complicate negotiations over final details of the legislation. The measure, with slightly differing versions passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives, would allow veterans a two-year period to seek private care at the Department of Veteran Affairs' expense if forced to endure long waits at the agency's facilities or if they live more than 40 miles away. House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller said Republicans on a negotiating panel want to find savings to offset the costs of the measure, but they believe the Congressional Budget Office estimates are unrealistic. The non-partisan CBO issued a preliminary estimate that these provisions would cost the Department of Veterans Affairs $35 billion through 2016, and if left in place therafter would about $50 billion a year.</p><br clear="all"/>

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