U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) requested that U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie provide information on the implementation status of the VA MISSION Act of 2018, a sweeping law that includes her bill expanding telehealth services to military veterans in America’s rural and underserved areas.
“As you know, June 2020 marks the two-year anniversary of the enactment of the VA MISSION Act,” Sen. Ernst wrote in a June 29 letter sent to Secretary Wilkie. “At this two-year mark, it is vital to ensure that this landmark legislation is being properly implemented and that veterans are able to utilize and benefit from provisions under the bill.”
The John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018, also known as the VA MISSION Act of 2018, includes Sen. Ernst’s Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine (VETS) Act. The landmark bipartisan VA MISSION Act became public law in June 2018 and aims to improve veterans’ access to healthcare services, among numerous provisions.
Sen. Ernst noted that she and her colleagues designed the VA MISSION Act to reform the VA system, increase access to healthcare in VA facilities and in the community, reduce wait times, expand benefits for caregivers, and improve the VA’s ability to recruit and retain quality medical professionals.
“In light of the two-year anniversary of enactment, I respectfully request that you provide my office with a comprehensive briefing on the status of fully implementing the VA MISSION Act, as well as how programs are being utilized, and how both access and quality of care have improved for our veterans over these past two years,” wrote Sen. Ernst.