Rounds bill would ensure veterans don’t pay more for private care under Choice Act

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would prevent veterans from having to pay more for private health care.

The Veterans Equal Cost for Care Act, S. 2649, would amend the Veterans Access Choice and Accountability Act (Choice Act) of 2014 by eliminating a secondary payer clause that leads to veterans paying more for private care than for care administered through a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility.

Congress approved the Choice Act in response to long wait times at VA facilities. The bill authorizes veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility, or those who have to wait more than 30 days for care, to seek care outside the VA system.

“Because we are a large, rural state, South Dakota veterans are disproportionately forced to use the Choice Act program to receive care at a non-VA facility,” Rounds said. “The intent of the Choice Act, which is to provide relief to those facing long appointment wait times and those who live far from VA facilities, is undermined because of higher out-of-pocket costs and reimbursement issues. In fact, problems with the Choice Act is the number one issue my constituent services representatives handle on a day-to-day basis.”

The Choice Act’s secondary payer clause applies to veterans who have private health insurance.

“The Veterans Equal Cost for Care Act would make certain veterans do not pay more for private care under the Choice Act program than they would if they were seen at a VA facility,” Rounds said. “If the VA doesn’t have the capacity to serve the veterans it is intended to serve, it is only right that it picks up the bill for outsourcing its duties. It is a step in the right direction toward addressing the many problems within the VA to make certain our veterans receive the best care possible.”