Another bill aimed at expanding veteran healthcare access is now making its way through Congress. Several members of the Senate Armed Services Committee introduced what they’re calling the Care Veterans Deserve Act on Wednesday.
The bill would add several provisions to the policies enacted in 2014 with the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act.
It calls for expanding pharmacy hours to nights and weekends and it would allow healthcare providers to volunteer their time to the VA during their off hours. The legislation would also allow eligible veterans to access care outside the VA through the Choice Program regardless of wait time or how far they live from a facility.
The idea of a Choice Program expansion has faced pushback in the past by some veterans groups who are concerned it would be a step closer to privatizing veteran health care.
This is the newest VA reform legislation to be introduced to Congress after many reports of mismanagement and delays in care surfaced at VA facilities around the country.
