Veterans Care OUTSIDE the VA?

New legislation may allow for veterans to obtain health care outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The “Caring for our Heroes in the 21^st Century Act” would make the VA more like private sector hospital networks by introducing a “Veterans Accountable Care Organization” that would control its facilities. Funding from the VA would be available to provide new veteran enrollees with vouchers to access care in their VetsCare Choice program. Veterans would also have the option to keep their existing coverage.

In 2015, VA records indicated that more than 307,000 veterans died while waiting for care.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and has received preliminary bi-partisan support.