U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga) said he was “terrifically excited, happy and pleased” with the actions of the House and Senate recently on the final passage of the VA Mission Bill -which he says will expand health care access for American veterans and create greater accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Isakson said he expected President Trump to sign the bill next week – a bill he called the “final crowning glory” of 11 VA reform measures that were part of an effort that began nearly five years ago.
In a sit-down with media Thursday, Isakson – who chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee– talked about the struggles the committee has had over the past four or five years to finally “get to the sweet spot.”
“We just went through every portion of the V.A. and found places we had problems and tried to respond to them,” Isakson said. “It all began in Arizona about five years ago with a veteran who died while waiting for care. It went from there to three veterans who committed suicide while in the hospital.”
One of the most important aspects of the bill, according to Isakson, is the establishment of Veteran Choice, which allows veterans to choose their own doctors or facilities for treatments as long as the VA doctor approves.
“Currently, veterans are limited by where they live,” said Isakson. “The VA Mission Act eliminates the 30-day/40-mile barriers to veteran’s care. Veterans can now live right next door to a VA facility or their VA doctor, and still choose to go to a public doctor or facility for care. This removes all qualifiers, and should drastically improve access to healthcare for all veterans.”
Isakson was quick to point out that this measure was intended to “mobilize the VA, not privatize the VA,” adding “there is a big difference in the two.”
The measure, which passed with bipartisan support, also strengthens the process for VA and partnering healthcare providers who prescribe opioids to veterans. The bill creates a new limiting formula which is intended to “lessen the number of opioids given out to veterans,” Isakson said.
Another highlight of the bill, according to Isakson, is the expanded eligibility for VA’s Caregiver Program to veterans of all generations, including those in the Vietnam War — who had previously been ineligible for Caregivers benefits.
According to Isakson, the bill also authorizes and appropriates funding for the VA to continue the Veterans Choice Program until the new, streamlined ‘Veterans Community Care Program’ established in this legislation is implemented. Acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie had notified Congress that funding for the program will run out as early as May 31, 2018.
In addition, the legislation will help improve existing VA health care and services by removing barriers for VA healthcare professionals to practice telemedicine, and eliminating impediments to hiring and retention of VA healthcare professionals.
The VA MISSION Act was passed by the full U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 347-70 on May 16. It was approved by the full Senate on a 92-5.
