The U.S. Senate has approved sweeping bipartisan legislation to reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the help of U.S. Sens. Dean Heller (R-NV), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) that now goes to the president’s desk for his signature.
“As we approach Memorial Day, we are reminded of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms, as well as the sacrifice that our military veterans – and their families – make each day,” said Sen. Heller, a senior member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
The Senate on May 23 approved by a 92-5 vote the VA MISSION Act, which stands for the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018, S. 2372, to authorize funds and reform the VA Choice Program, expand eligibility for caregivers, recruit and retain doctors, and streamline the VA health care system.
Sen. Heller, an original cosponsor of S. 2372, said the measure is focused on “empowering veterans with more choices and making sure they have access to quality, timely care near their homes.” Introduced on Feb. 5 by U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), among the other cosponsors of S. 2372 were U.S. Sens. Fischer, Thom Tillis (R-NC), Steve Daines (R-MT), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Jon Tester (D-MT).
S. 2372 includes provisions from three bills authored by Sen. Heller, including the Veterans Transplant Coverage Act, S. 115, which allows veterans to receive live-donor organ transplants from non-veterans.
Also included was Heller’s VA Bonus Transparency Act, S. 114 – the portion of the bill not included under the already signed law, the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 – which requires the VA to annually report on the bonuses awarded to critical positions within the VA. The third provision was the Maximizing Efficiency and Improving Access to Providers at the VA Act, S. 113, which requires the VA to hire medical scribes for patient data entry so physicians can spend more time with veteran patients.
“Whether it’s increasing options for veterans in need of an organ transplant, making it easier for VA physicians to spend more time with their patients, or bringing more transparency to the VA, I’m proud that the VA MISSION Act contains my provisions that are based on the feedback I receive from my Veterans Advisory Councils in Nevada. I’m also pleased that this bill expands the VA Caregivers program to all eras of veterans,” Sen. Heller said following the Senate vote.
Another key provision from Sen. Gardner’s Veterans Improved Access and Care Act of 2017, S. 2168, also was included in S. 2372 that eliminated the current 30-day, 40-mile eligibility rule so veterans have more access to private and local medical care. Current law mandates that veterans see medical professionals outside the VA system only after waiting more than 30 days for an appointment or only if they live 40-plus miles away from a VA facility, according to information provided by the senator’s office.
Sen. Gardner noted that in Colorado, medical care wait-times for veterans have exceeded 40 days. “This is unacceptable and this legislation will help fix this problem,” he said. “If a veteran can’t get an appointment with the VA they are free to see a doctor of their choice, regardless of their location.”
Timely access to quality healthcare, he added, is what America’s veterans deserve “and it’s about time we live up to this commitment.”
Similarly, Sen. Fischer said she’s proud to have signed on as a cosponsor to S. 2372, which she dubbed “meaningful legislation that will take care of our vets.”
The bill, the senator added, provides military veterans with the option to find medical treatments when and where they might make sense for their needs.
Sen. Fischer also said she was pleased Congress could work together on behalf of the nation’s veterans. “I look forward to President Trump signing this important legislation into law,” she said.
Additionally, according to her staff, the legislation will provide more resources and authorize new programs for the recruitment and retention of VA healthcare providers and expand the post 9/11 caregiver program to include all eras of veterans and caregivers.