In recent months, the quality of veterans benefits as it relates to health care has come into question, but as is often the case in these situations, lawmakers are moving quickly to remediate these issues. Already, a bill is being hustled through the U.S. Senate to address the problem.
Specifically, Senate bill 2633 would create a new single entity for dealing with a number of health care initiatives that previously existed under the VA, according to a report from the Military Times. Additionally, the new Veterans Choice program will use third-party administration to help streamline the way in which it schedules appointments and bills veterans, hopefully easing some of the issues that have plagued the VA for some time. A similar bill was sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican, and would further reform payment systems so veterans have an easier time dealing with the cost of care.
"We must get it right for our veterans," Burr told the newspaper. "In North Carolina, we have seen hospitals stop taking veterans under the Choice program because VA has consistently failed to pay veterans."
However, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee chairman Johnny Isakson said that this bill will likely be folded into a broader omnibus bill that the Senate hopes to pass before Memorial Day, the report said. Specifically, it would also join legislation to help get more assistance to people who were wounded in combat prior to 9/11, which many current aspects of VA health care does not.
The more that can be done to help veterans get all the care they need, not only for physical scars but mental ones as well, the better off veterans will be going forward thanks to a growing number of choices for quality treatment.