We all can help assure veterans get the care they earned

Our nation owes its veterans an enormous debt for the sacrifices they’ve made on our behalf. A significant part of that obligation is ensuring they have access to the health care they have earned and were promised.

Too often, the Department of Veterans Affairs has failed to deliver on that promise. The failures of the VA are well-documented, from mismanagement to incompetence to outright scandal.

After years of futile efforts to overhaul the VA, the bipartisan VA MISSION Act promises real change. Signed into law on June 6, D-Day, the new law promises a solid step forward in keeping faith with veterans by reforming the VA and improving access to health care.

One of the most important provisions of the law is that it fixes problems with the current Veterans Choice Program in a way that will allow more veterans the option to seek care in their communities.

Veterans made a choice to serve the nation. They chose to fight for our freedom and security in places like North Africa, Europe and the Pacific; then later Korea and Vietnam; today in Afghanistan and the Middle East, and in many other places unknown or forgotten by most Americans. But while their fellow Americans may not know or remember, our veterans do. They still carry the memories and too often the scars — physical and mental — of these places and their service there. When they return home, it is vital that they have access to the necessary care and resources.

The difficulty veterans have obtaining appointments at the VA, the frequent unavailability of specialized care, and the long wait times for appointments are intolerable. Tragically, many veterans have died or suffered adverse medical consequences as a result of delayed care. We have a sacred responsibility to these men and women. With the MISSION Act, we have an opportunity to correct this breach of faith.

The law provides better clarity over referral and eligibility standards for veterans seeking care outside the VA system. It also gives the VA the tools to coordinate that care seamlessly, by speeding reimbursements for community-based providers and improving record and information sharing for better coordination of care.

While the legislation provides funding for the continuation of the Veterans Choice Program over the next year before it is replaced with the new community care program, additional funding will be needed. The VA, whose budget has doubled over the past decade, should work to identify savings to offset the cost of implementing the legislation.

The work did not end when President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. Lawmakers, veterans and other stakeholders will be responsible for speaking up to ensure the spirit of the legislation is reflected in the implementation process. Clear and concise access standards need to be adopted. The VA needs to meet deadlines and educate veterans and community providers on the changes.

Passing good legislation is not enough. We must continue to engage and provide oversight of the work the VA is doing so veterans who want to access health care in their local communities are given that choice.

This story was originally published July 6, 2018 at 9:41 AM.