Congress Appears to be like To Ease Restrictions on Veterans’ Use of Non-VA Clinics and Hospitals
WATERLOO, Iowa — John-Paul Sager appreciates the care he has obtained at Division of Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics, however he thinks it ought to be simpler for veterans like him to make use of their advantages elsewhere.
Sager, a Marine Corps and Military veteran, makes use of his VA protection for non-VA remedy of again accidents stemming from his army service. However he mentioned he typically should make a number of telephone calls to acquire approval to see a neighborhood chiropractor. “It looks like it takes solely too lengthy,” he mentioned.
Many veterans dwell hours from VA amenities, or they want well being companies that aren’t available from the VA. In such instances, the division is meant to offer a referral and pay for personal care. Critics say it usually hesitates to take action.
Republicans controlling Congress intention to streamline the method of acquiring what is called group care.
Two Republican senators have launched laws that may make it simpler for rural veterans to hunt care at native hospitals and clinics. The proposals would construct on VA group care applications that began underneath Democratic President Barack Obama and had been expanded in Trump’s first time period.
Critics fear that steering veterans to non-public care amenities drains federal cash from the VA hospital and clinic system. However supporters say veterans shouldn’t be compelled to journey lengthy distances or wait months for the remedy they might receive at native hospitals and clinics.
“My important concern is for veterans, not for the VA,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) instructed KFF Well being Information. “I don’t consider we have now an obligation to maintain the forms.”
About 9 million veterans are enrolled within the VA well being system. Final yr, about 3 million of them — together with 1.2 million rural veterans — used their advantages to cowl care at non-VA amenities, in keeping with knowledge offered by the division.
Cramer sponsored a invoice that may enable veterans who dwell inside 35 miles of a rural, “vital entry” hospital to make use of VA advantages to cowl care there or at affiliated clinics with out referrals from VA employees.
Cramer, who serves on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, famous his state has only one VA hospital. It’s in Fargo, on the state’s jap border, which is greater than 400 miles by automotive from components of western North Dakota.
Many North Dakota veterans drive previous a number of group hospitals to get to the VA hospital for remedy, he mentioned. In the meantime, many rural hospitals are determined for extra sufferers and revenue. “I saved pondering to myself, ‘This doesn’t make any sense in any respect,’” Cramer mentioned.
Cramer mentioned earlier legal guidelines, together with the VA Mission Act, made it simpler for veterans to make use of their advantages to cowl care at group hospitals and clinics.
However he mentioned veterans nonetheless should fill out an excessive amount of paperwork and acquire approval from VA staffers to make use of non-VA amenities.
“We will’t let the VA itself decide whether or not a veteran is certified to obtain native care,” he mentioned.
U.S. Rep. Mark Takano of California, who’s the highest Democrat on the Home Veterans’ Affairs Committee, mentioned he sees the necessity for out of doors look after some veterans. However he contends Republicans are going overboard in shifting the division’s cash to help non-public well being care amenities.
The VA supplies specialised care that responds to veterans’ wants and experiences, he argues.
“We should stop funds from being siphoned away from veterans’ hospitals and clinics, or VA will crumble,” Takano mentioned in a press release launched by his workplace. “Veterans can’t afford for us to dismantle VA direct care in favor of shifting extra care to the group.”
Some veterans’ advocacy teams have additionally expressed considerations.
Jon Retzer, deputy nationwide legislative director for the Disabled American Veterans, mentioned the group desires to make it simpler for veterans to search out care. Rural and feminine veterans can have a very powerful time discovering applicable, well timed companies at VA hospitals and clinics, he mentioned. However the Disabled American Veterans doesn’t wish to see VA amenities weakened by having an excessive amount of federal cash diverted to non-public hospitals and clinics.
Retzer mentioned it’s true that sufferers typically look forward to VA care, however so do sufferers at many non-public hospitals and clinics. Most delays stem from employees shortages, he mentioned, which afflict many well being amenities. “It is a nationwide disaster.”
Retzer mentioned the Disabled American Veterans favors persevering with to require referrals from VA physicians earlier than veterans can search VA-financed care elsewhere. “We wish to make sure that the VA is the first supplier of that care,” he mentioned.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins has pledged to enhance the group care program whereas sustaining the power of the division’s hospitals and clinics. The division declined a KFF Well being Information request to interview Collins.
Marcus Lewis, CEO of First Care Well being Heart, which features a hospital in Park River, North Dakota, helps Cramer’s invoice. Lewis is a Navy veteran who makes use of the VA’s group care choice to pay for remedy of a again harm stemming from his army service.
General, Lewis mentioned, the group care program has grow to be simpler to make use of. However the software course of stays sophisticated, and individuals should repeatedly receive VA referrals for remedy of persistent points, he mentioned. “It’s irritating.”
Park River is a 1,400-person city about 50 miles south of the Canadian border. Its 14-bed hospital presents an array of companies, together with surgical procedure, most cancers care, and psychological well being remedy. However Lewis often sees a VA van choosing up native veterans, a few of whom journey 140 miles to Fargo for care they’re entitled to obtain domestically.
“I believe lots of of us simply don’t wish to battle the system,” he mentioned. “They don’t wish to undergo the additional hoops, and they also’ll leap within the van, they usually’ll journey alongside.”
Rep. Mike Bost (R-Unwell.), chairman of the Home Veterans’ Affairs Committee, mentioned veterans in some areas of the nation have had extra bother than others in getting VA approval for care from non-public clinics and hospitals.
Bost helped acquire the Home’s approval for Trump’s request for $34.7 billion for the group care program in 2026. Though spending on this system has gone up and down lately, the appropriation represents a rise of about 50% from what it was in 2025 and 2022. The Senate included comparable figures for subsequent yr in its model of a army spending finances that handed Aug. 1.
Bost additionally co-sponsored a Home invoice that may spell out necessities for the VA to pay for group care.
Sager hopes the brand new proposals make life simpler for veterans. The Gulf Battle veteran lives within the northeastern Iowa city of Denver. He travels about 15 miles to Waterloo to see a chiropractor, who treats him for again and shoulder ache from accidents he suffered whereas coaching Saudi troops in hand-to-hand fight.
Sager, who stays energetic within the Military Reserve, additionally visits a Waterloo outpatient clinic run by the VA, the place his main care physician practices. He appreciates the company’s mission, together with its employment of many veterans. “You simply really feel such as you’re being taken care of by your individual,” he mentioned.
He believes the VA can run a powerful hospital and clinic system whereas providing alternate options for veterans who dwell removed from these amenities or who want care the VA can’t promptly present.
The native VA doesn’t supply chiropractic care, so it pays for Sager to go to the non-public clinic. However each few months, he must receive recent approval from the VA. That always requires a number of telephone calls, he mentioned.
Sager is one in all a few dozen veterans who use the group care program to pay for visits at Vanderloo Chiropractic Clinic, workplace supervisor Linda Gill mentioned.
Gill mentioned the VA program pays about $34 for a typical go to, which is comparable to non-public insurance coverage, however the paperwork is extra burdensome. She mentioned leaders of the chiropractic follow thought of pulling out of the VA program however determined to place up with the hassles for a great trigger. She needs veterans didn’t have to leap via so many hoops to acquire handy care.
“After what they’ve performed for us? Please,” she mentioned.
