The unified voice of medicine calling for swift action to address veterans’ urgent health care needs resonated this week on Capitol Hill as Congress passed reform legislation.
The bipartisan framework agreed upon last week passed the U.S. House of Representatives Monday in a vote of 420-5, paving the way for veterans to seek medical care outside the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system if they aren’t receiving timely treatment. The U.S. Senate followed suit and passed the bill Thursday night. The AMA House of Delegates in June had adopted policy urging Congress to act quickly on improving access to care for veterans.
“The AMA believes that all Americans should have timely access to health care, especially those who bravely serve our country,” AMA President Robert M. Wah, MD, said in a statement. “Our nation’s physicians can and should be a part of the solution to ensure America’s veterans can access the care they need and deserve.”
A resolution also was adopted separately to ensure that veterans will be able to seek care from both non-VA hospitals and physicians. The AMA secured this language based on physician consensus around the June policy.
The legislation aims to address the access-to-care crisis that has left thousands of veterans unable to receive care when they need it. Physicians already have been gearing up for the legislative reform by preparing registries of those who are willing to care for veterans, which will be ready to share with local communities and VA sites across the country.
Reforms outlined in the bill include:
- Veterans who cannot secure an appointment at a VA facility within established wait times or who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility will be able to seek care from physicians and hospitals outside the VA system using the new “Veterans Choice Card.”
- Additional VA facilities will be opened in 18 states and Puerto Rico, increasing access to facilities and specialists.
- Additional funds will be devoted to hiring more primary care physicians and specialists as well as other clinical professionals who are insufficiently staffed.
- The VA health system will be tasked with improving administrative functions throughout the system.
President Obama is expected to sign this bill into law immediately.
