What is the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, and how does it expand care?

Veterans were promised timely health care when Congress passed the VA MISSION Act in 2018.

That law expanded access to community care when the VA cannot provide needed treatment quickly enough or close enough to home.

But too often, veterans are still facing long wait times, confusing rules, and long commutes for basic care ― all because the MISSION Act isn’t being enforced.

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act would fix those problems. We support this legislation because it would protect community care, improve transparency, increase mental health support, and make it easier for veterans to understand their options.

What the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act would do

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act would help make the system more responsive, transparent, and accountable, while providing a model for good health care for all Americans.

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act strengthens the MISSION Act by clarifying and standardizing community care access rules, helping veterans more easily obtain timely care outside the VA when needed.

Key reforms include:

• Making community care access standards permanent in law
• Requiring the VA to explain denials and outline appeal options
• Creating better online scheduling and referral tools
• Expanding access to community-based mental health care
• Measuring wait times more accurately

The bill also includes a pilot program allowing veterans to directly access outpatient mental health and substance-use treatment in their communities without first seeking VA approval. When a veteran decides to ask for help, months of waiting can make a difficult situation even worse.

Why it matters:

Many veterans already qualify for community care when the VA cannot provide treatment quickly enough. But those standards are often applied inconsistently, leaving veterans confused about their options.

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act would create clearer rules and more accountability.

The goal isn’t to replace the VA as a valuable resource. Most VA staff genuinely care about veterans and want to help.

And veterans who still want to receive care through the VA could do so. But when the VA cannot provide timely treatment, veterans should be able to use their earned benefits in their own communities.

The reality is that the current system isn’t keeping up with the needs of our veteran community. We’re working to fix that through the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act.

Josh Pickett’s story shows why timely care matters

Purple Heart recipient Josh Pickett experienced frustrations with the VA firsthand.

After serving two combat tours, he tried to schedule a VA appointment and was offered a telehealth visit that did not work for his schedule. When he declined it, he was told he would have to wait another three months for an in-person appointment.

Three months is unacceptable for veterans managing chronic pain, service-connected injuries, or other health concerns. Delays can make these problems worse. Josh’s experience shows why clear community care standards matter.

When care is available outside the VA, veterans should not be forced to wait months to receive it.

You can read Josh’s full story here.

Chris Enget’s story shows that the problem isn’t isolated

Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Chris Enget faced a different kind of delay.

After leaving the military, he struggled with injuries, isolation, and serious mental health challenges. Following two suicide attempts, he turned to the VA for help.

He was told to come back later.

The wait for mental health care stretched to six months.

For Chris and many other veterans, delay is not just frustrating. It’s dangerous.

His story shows why the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act includes reforms focused on mental health care. When veterans are ready to seek help, the system should not send them to the back of the line.

You can read Chris’ story here.

Veterans can lead the way toward better health care

Veterans are not asking for special treatment.

They are asking the system to keep its promise.

That is why veterans like Josh Pickett and Chris Enget are speaking out. They know what happens when wait times stretch too long, rules are unclear, or community care is harder to access than it should be.

Veterans served their country. They should not have to fight unnecessary delays to receive health care.

Take two minutes to sign a letter urging lawmakers to support the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act so veterans can get timely care through the VA ― or in their communities when needed.