State
Representative Dan Swanson passed legislation through the Illinois
House to allow indigent homeless veterans one free complete copy of their
patient records if those records are being used in support of a claim for
federal Veterans’ disability benefits.
“For Veterans applying for federal disability benefits, the
cost of copies of their own medical files can be cost-prohibitive for Veterans
of little to no means,” said Rep. Swanson.
“Hopefully, this bill will help remove one more barrier to those
Veterans receiving benefits to which they are entitled and well-deserved.”
Swanson, a US Army and Illinois Army National Guard Veteran,
served as Superintendent of the Henry County Veterans Assistance Commission
providing financial aid and transportation services to Iowa City, Iowa Veterans
Hospital for Henry County Veterans. From
December 1 2013 to November 30, 2014, 16 volunteer drivers drove over 47,000
miles, made 219 trips to Iowa City VA Center and transported 667 veterans for
medical care. In that role, Swanson also
provided financial assistance to veterans to assist paying utility, rent and
purchase food.
House Bill 4848 passed unanimously in the Illinois House on
April 20 and will now proceed to the Illinois Senate. Proponents of the legislation included the
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS), National
Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Chicago Coalition for the
Homeless.
Swanson also passed House Bill 4849 last week, a bill
ensuring that the Illinois Department of Military Affairs (IDMA) is within full
compliance with federal laws pertaining to distribution of funds for the
purposes of capital improvements and rehabilitation construction costs. HB 4849 also passed unanimously and is now in
the Illinois Senate.