U.S. Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., have introduced legislation to provide comprehensive health coverage to disabled children born with spina bifida due to paternal exposure to Agent Orange in the Vietnam and Korean wars.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, Agent Orange was a chemical used by the U.S. military to defoliate dense jungles in Vietnam and along the Korean demilitarized zone from 1962 to 1971. Children of Vietnam and Korean War veterans faced an increased risk of being born with spina bifida, which can lead to severe physical and mental disabilities.

An estimated 1,200 people are currently enrolled in the Spina Bifida Health Care Program administered by the Veterans Administration, the statement said, but treatment under the VA program is only covered if the beneficiaries can provide documentation directly linking necessary treatment to symptoms of spina bifida. “However, spina bifida has numerous secondary conditions, which can make it difficult to provide the documentation necessary to meet statutory requirements,” the statement said. “These conditions can include learning disabilities, gastrointestinal problems, skin conditions, depression, and difficulty swallowing and breathing.”

The Spina Bifida Health Care Program Expansion Act would amend U.S. law governing veterans health care to ensure those with spina bifida would receive comprehensive health care services.

“Increased risk of spina bifida was a tragic, unintended consequence of our use of Agent Orange during military campaigns in Vietnam and Korea,’ Bayh said. “We have an obligation to provide full and comprehensive care to these American children who we never intended to hurt. This legislation will help families overcome unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles in order to obtain the full coverage they deserve.”

“I am hopeful this bill will assist those families that have been touched by spina bifida due to service in our nation’s Armed Forces by expanding their access to the important care offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Spina Bifida Health Care Program.”

Posted 7/31/2008