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Tom Nickels

Executive Vice President
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May 23, 2018

America’s hospitals and health systems are strongly committed to providing care to veterans in their communities and honoring their service to our country. The AHA applauds the Congress for passing bipartisan legislation to strengthen and streamline veterans’ access to health care. The VA Mission Act will help ensure that our nation’s veterans have access to the high-quality care that they have earned and deserve when they need it and where they need it.

We are pleased that the legislation consolidates multiple VA community care programs into one permanent “Veterans Community Care Program.” This will provide continuity for veterans to access care outside of the VA’s medical network and decrease confusion about eligibility criteria and covered services. We applaud doing away with the 30-day wait or 40-mile distance eligibility requirement that arbitrarily restricts access to health care. Additionally, we are pleased that Congress is addressing problems with prompt payment to community providers and that the VA will provide reimbursement to community providers at rates set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The AHA believes a strong partnership between America’s hospitals and health systems and the VA is essential to ensure our nation’s veterans receive the health care they need and deserve. America’s hospitals and health systems stand ready to work with the VA in implementing the new “Veterans Community Care Program” to care for veterans who have sacrificed for our country and deserve the best possible timely care in their communities.

Contact:  Marie Johnson, (202) 626-2351
               Colin Milligan, (202) 638-5491

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