U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce released the following statement after the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a markup on H.R. 5674, the VA MISSION Act, that ends the Veterans Choice Program, or Choice, which provides better service and flexibility to veterans trying to receive access to medical care.
“Our veterans have served and sacrificed in defense of our freedoms and liberties. As a nation, we owe it these brave men and women to keep our promise to them by providing the highest quality of care when they return home from the battlefield.
“This bill passed in Committee today lacks defined access standards and quality metrics, … not only hand[ing] over enormous regulatory power to a systemically, failing bureaucracy, but also end[ing] the one program veterans have finally come to learn and use – Choice. . . It took a national crisis to originally enact the Veterans Choice Program, and it is wholly unacceptable to eliminate it.
“As a veteran, I’ve personally seen the unique challenges that veterans in rural communities face and understand the difficulties involved in receiving specific care that is needed. We should be working in Congress to break down the barriers within the VA that affect rural veterans, not giving them full authority to regulate veterans out of seeing their local providers.”
Background
The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (Veteran Choice Program or Choice) of 2014, was enacted on August 7, 2014 only after it was uncovered that many veterans died while waiting for access to care.
The Veterans Choice Program was implemented in response to the uncovering of secret waitlists and veterans unable to access medical care at VA facilities. Choice was ultimately enacted to improve the access of eligible veterans to health care through non-Department institutions and providers.
The two main eligibility criteria for Choice are (1) living outside of a 40-mile driving distance from a VA Medical Facility or (2) having to wait longer than 30 days for an appointment. [The VA MISSION Act proposed bill ultimately “sunsets,” or eliminates, the Veteran Choice Program 1 year from the date of its enactment.]
Read more: LA Daily Post
Jim W. Dean is VT Editor Emeritus. He was an active editor on VT from 2010-2022. He was involved in operations, development, and writing, plus an active schedule of TV and radio interviews. He now writes and posts periodically for VT.
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I’m fairly healthy for my age. I live in Kingman, AZ but had to drive 260 miles round trip to Prescott, AZ for eye glasses! I could get the eye exam here in town. Numerous outlets for glasses close by.
Unbelievable action by the PTB , i am nearly speechless at this additional insult to the Vets . I put up with driving 90 miles to the VA Hospital for 3 years , the filthy exam rooms, the lines ,waiting in the lobby while sitting on furniture from the 60’s era , med record losses , and you definitely don’t want to use the main lobby restroom if you can avoid it . forced vaccination policies to retain benefits have made me extremely cautious of using the VAH for anything. yes, they now have a clean clinic nearby so thats better . Meanwhile we just sit by and wait for the next nightmare decision by the Idiots in Charge . The advantage goes to the Gov. as surviving Vietnam era Vets die in rapidly increasing numbers . the choice program is very important to Vets .
No! This program has been very helpful for us.
I will be contacting my Reps in Wash D.C.,
and I hope many others will too.
Thank you for the heads up, Jim.
And thanks for all the service you do at VT.
Take care.
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