CVA’s John Vick Testifies to House Veteran Affairs Committee on Community Care

CVA Executive Director, John Vick, on Thursday testified before the House Committee on Veteran Affairs on the state and future of Community Care and veteran heath care.

Key excerpts:

“CVA’s view of veterans’ health care is simple: at all times, veterans should have the choice of seeking care either at a VA facility or a community care provider depending on which best meets their needs. This is the same model our retired military and civilians are able to use.  To the extent the VA molds itself into a socialized health care system by limiting the progress that has been made to add choices for veterans, the more dysfunction we are likely to continue to see.”

“The Community Care Network’s Next Generation contract offers an important investment in sustaining the hard-won health care choices of the VA MISSION Act and ensuring that veterans have quality choices to choose from. At the same time, Members of Congress and policymakers at the VA will need to work together to ensure the Next Generation contract is carefully and efficiently managed to limit the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse.”

“Protecting and expanding community care options is not about “privatizing” or otherwise eliminating the VA that so many veterans appreciate. It’s about treating veterans like adults and giving them the same options policymakers extend them elsewhere. When veterans are able to choose the care that best meets their needs, as military retirees can, they are more able to live fuller lives and pursue their goals, benefitting American communities through their leadership in the process. Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs should protect and expand our veterans’ treatment options, putting them in their health care driver’s seat.”

READ THE FULL TESTIMONY HERE.