Our veterans have bravely fought for our country. They have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis, and I am forever grateful for their service.
As vice chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I have the privilege to work with my colleagues in the House to serve our nation’s heroes. This is not a job I take lightly. This is my top priority – to ensure our veterans receive the support and care they deserve.
Unfortunately, as the committee has seen firsthand through many reports, hearings and meetings, our veterans often face unnecessary barriers when it comes to accessing quality care.
Earlier this year, a Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General report found “serious” problems with enrollment data for veterans seeking healthcare. The VA’s inspector general confirmed that nearly 900,000 military veterans have officially pending applications for healthcare. Of those 900,000, an estimated 307,000 veterans listed died before their applications for care were processed.
Our worst fears were confirmed by these reports. Our efforts to improve the VA have taken on a greater urgency. The committee will continue to hold hearings to review the inadequate service and significant delays in veteran care. It is our duty to ensure that each and every one of our true American heroes receives quality healthcare, in a timely and convenient manner.
They are depending on us to ensure the commitments made to them are upheld, as they have honored their commitment through service and sacrifice.
One concrete example of how Congress intervened to provide relief to Veterans was through passage of the Choice program, which was enacted a year ago. The law was intended to ensure veterans had better access to care through the use of community providers; however, its implementation has been woefully inadequate.
Just last week, we held a hearing to examine how the Choice program has been implemented. The testimony indicated that too many veterans are still struggling to receive care in a timely manner, as the VA has instituted many procedural barriers and demonstrated poor coordination and communication in all aspects of the program rollout.
These concerns have been echoed by many local veterans from the Tampa Bay, Fla., area who report continued delays and unnecessary burdens accessing care. They are facing egregious wait times and lack of coordination between the VA and local healthcare providers when attempting to even set up appointments.
In an effort to improve care for veterans, the VA was required to deliver to Congress a plan to align all existing non-VA healthcare programs under the Choice Program. We are working to hold the VA accountable to ensure they streamline the process to make it easier for our veterans.
At the hearing last week, members of the committee and officials from the VA discussed ways to address challenges in the Choice program, improve the VA overall and ensure veterans are able to receive quality care in a safe, quick and efficient manner.
This program is a step in the right direction, but there is clearly much more work to be done. Last week’s hearing will help further our efforts to hold the VA accountable for implementing the Choice program efficiently and ensure the VA continues to evolve to meet the growing needs of our veterans.
I will continue to question VA officials on the wait times veterans face and demand improvement. It is essential our nation’s heroes have fast and easy access to quality care, and I remain dedicated to ensuring that our promise to our veterans is fulfilled.
Gus Bilirakis represents Florida’s 12th congressional district. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
