Veterans need access to timely, quality medical care for their unique needs.
Thanks to a newly re-introduced bill, expanded access to care could soon be a reality for millions of veterans who use the Department of Veterans Affairs for their health care delivery and benefits.
The Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, introduced in the Senate by Sen. Marsha Blackburn and in the House by Rep. Andy Biggs, would break down many of the barriers that currently stand in the way of veterans accessing community care through their VA benefits.
Specifically, the bill would create a pilot program to offer full health care choice to veterans, transforming the way VA care delivered. Full choice eliminates the requirements that a veteran patient receives a pre-authorization from the VA before seeking care in the community. After four years, the pilot program would expand to all veterans who use the VA for their care.
CVA’s Executive Director Russ Duerstine had this to say about the bill:
The Veterans Health Care Freedom Act would ensure veterans have choice by holding the VA accountable to help them access care rather than act as a bureaucratic barrier. It’s simple – our nation’s heroes should have the option to choose the health care provider that best meets their needs, even when that means taking their benefits outside of the VA to get that care. It needs to be up to them. This bill would make health care choice a reality for veterans, rather than an exception.
The VA MISSION Act was signed into law to expand access to community care so that veterans wouldn’t be stuck in a bureaucratic system that doesn’t prioritize their needs. Passing the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act is a necessary next step to ensure MISSION Act provisions are protected and built on in the future.
Tell your lawmaker to sign on in support of the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act.