This week, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a number of changes to the Veterans Choice Program (Program), which will allow more veterans to seek care outside of the VA health system and use private healthcare providers and facilities. Previously, a veteran had to meet several criteria to be eligible for the program. Under the new requirements, a veteran is eligible for the Program if it will take more than 30 days to get an appointment at a VA facility, or if travel to a facility requires air, boat, or ferry transportation.
“As we implement the Veterans Choice Program, we are learning from our stakeholders what works and what needs to be refined,” said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “It is our goal to do all that we can to remove barriers that separate veterans from the care they deserve.”
To date, more than 400,000 medical appointments have been scheduled since the Program went into effect on November 5, 2014. Additional details about the Program can be accessed here.