The Senate will take up a bill that would allow more veterans to see doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced Thursday.
The legislation passed the House Wednesday 347-70 and has the support of President Trump. It would allow more veterans to go outside the VA healthcare system and use private-sector doctors when VA medical centers can’t provide appointments within a month, veterans have to drive more than 40 minutes to access care, or when care is determined inadequate by VA leaders.
The $52 billion plan includes $5.2 billion to avoid a shutdown of the Choice program, which is expected to run out of funds as early as May 31, disrupting medical care for veterans. Choice was created as a reaction to the scandals involving long wait times for care in the VA system, when veterans died while they waited to receive medical care.
McConnell filed cloture on the bill Thursday.
“The Senate next week will take up and pass the VA MISSION Act, and send it to the president’s desk before Memorial Day,” McConnell said. “This bicameral, bipartisan bill contains significant reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs which will increase and strengthen the healthcare and community care options available to America’s veterans.”
Opponents of the legislation have said they fear the VA is headed toward privatization, which would remove many responsibilities from the VA system and provide public funding to private medical centers.
