VA budget grows healthcare coverage, funds

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Expansion of healthcare coverage and increased healthcare funding are key provisions of President Barack Obama's proposed Veterans Affairs budget for 2010.

Obama's VA budget proposal would expand eligibility for healthcare to non-disabled veterans with modest incomes, bringing more than 500,000 eligible veterans into the VA healthcare system by 2013, the budget document indicates.

Increased funding for healthcare would offer resources to provide 5.5 million veteran patents quality, timely care, the administration said.

The funding "also enables VA to create Centers of Excellence and provides additional veteran-oriented specialty care in areas including prosthetics, vision and spinal cord injury, aging, and women's health," the document said.

Obama presented his budget proposal for fiscal year 2010 Thursday to Congress.

The proposal would increase funding for the Veterans Affairs Department by $25 billion above baseline during the next five years. It would enhance outreach and services related to mental health and cognitive injuries, focusing on access in rural areas, the administration said.

The proposal also would provide greater benefits to veterans who are medically retired from service.

In addition, it would facilitate implementation of education benefits veterans earn through their military service.