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Veterans’ program extension awaits Trump signature
Moves to extend the Veterans Choice Program awaits the signature of President Donald Trump after U.S. Congress passed a Senate bill finally giving veterans access medical care locally.
The Senate passed the bill—co-authored by Sens. John McCain (R-Arizona), Jon Tester (D-Montana), Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), and Jerry Moran (R-Kansas)—on April 3 and the House of Representatives two days after.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) said the bill or the Veterans Choice Improvement Act, if it becomes a law, would allow veterans in the CNMI and other remote areas to continue getting medical care rather than traveling to get treated.
“The House approved an extension of the Veterans Choice Program, which would otherwise end on Aug. 7,” said Sablan, who is a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs chaired by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tennessee).
“Veterans in the Marianas and other remote areas will continue to be able to get medical care from their local physicians, rather than traveling off island to a veterans clinic, until early 2018.
Sablan said the committee unanimously passed the extension bill with few amendments on the existing law. “Including making the VA the primary payer for care outside a VA clinic, even for non-service connected conditions. We also allowed the VA to share veteran’s health records with outside care providers, unless the veteran objects.”
He added the extension gives Congress more time to come up with legislation that would further improve the VA’s programs. “The extension gives us time to continue working on legislation to improve Choice and the VA’s community care programs further without disrupting veterans care.”
The Veterans Choice Program is set to end on Aug. 7 this year where the VA is expecting an estimated $950 million to be left when it expires. The bill would allow the VA to use the remaining funds for the program even after August 2017 or when it is all spent.
Trump, during the campaign, has promised to help improve the condition of veterans, including overhauling the Department of Veterans Affairs and to finally address other issues.
