The Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness estimates that there are roughly 556,729 veterans living in the state, which is about 2.5 percent of all servicemembers in the United States. Local and state government officials have been working to improve the quality of living among this community's members through programs related to homelessness and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Tucson News Now recently reported that Senator John McCain, a decorated veteran himself, spoke at a town hall to discuss some of the programs being launched to improve health care for veterans living in Arizona. Although the state has been involved in national initiatives including the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act, the source pointed out that the senator's announcement related to his own plan.
According to the news provider, the Care Veterans Deserve program would work to improve the ways in which veterans seek and acquire medical care, especially for needs that transcend PTSD.
"The VA does a magnificent job with PTSD, with traumatic brain injury," McCain told Tucson News Now. "But there are many other areas of medical care that it can be done as well or better by a private health care provider."
The news provider noted that McCain made it a point to discuss the ways in which all of these programs intertwine in the lives of veterans, such as how homelessness contributes to medical-related issues down the road. His plan seeks to take a more comprehensive approach to caring for veterans and positioning them for success.
Veterans in Arizona and other states should keep their eyes open for announcements such as this one, as more officials are pushing to advance care for servicemembers beyond the scope of traditional treatments and services.