Should a Program Letting Veterans Get VA-Funded Care at Private Facilities be Extended? (H.R. 369)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is H.R. 369?
(Updated March 22, 2018)
This bill would eliminate the sunset date for the Veterans Choice Program (VCP), which is a $10 billion pilot project created to help veterans get Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) funded healthcare from participating private sector providers that is currently scheduled to sunset on August 7, 2017. This bill removes that sunset and allows the VCP to operate until the rest of its $10 billion budget (expected to be between $200 million and $1 billion by August 7) is spent, as current law would make that funding unavailable.
To qualify for the Choice program, a veteran has to face wait times longer than 30 days for a VA appointment or if they live more than 40 miles from a VA healthcare facility.
Argument in favor
This commonsense bill would allow the Veterans Choice Program to run its course and between $200 million and $1 billion in authorized funding to go toward providing veterans with private sector healthcare rather than that funding being cut off in August 2017.
Argument opposed
The Veterans Choice Program proved to be a useful pilot project in terms of gauging what works and what doesn’t in terms of letting veterans get healthcare from the private sector, but it should conclude on its sunset date and the VA assuming control of leftover funds.
Impact
Veterans enrolled in the Veterans Choice Program; participating private sector healthcare providers; and the VA.
Cost of H.R. 369
The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would allow the Veterans Choice Program to operate until the $10 billion in funding the pilot project was granted is exhausted, rather than sunsetting on August 7, 2017.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) introduced this bill to ensure that veterans using the Veterans Choice Program can continue to receive healthcare in their communities when VA services would be delayed or distant, rather than allowing the program to end in August 2017:
“By eliminating the sunset date of the Choice Act, Congress is ensuring veterans have certainty and continuity of care while we work with the Trump administration to develop a strategic plan that addresses the need for a veteran-centric, coordinated network of care that utilizes the strengths of both VA and community health providers.”
This legislation was passed by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on a voice vote, and has the support of six cosponsors — including five Republicans and one Democrat.
Media:
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Sponsoring Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) & Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) Press Release
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CBO Cost Estimate
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Federal News Radio
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FCW
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Military Advantage
Summary by Eric Revell
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