As a key stakeholder working with and advocating for veterans in our community, Representative Ann Kirkpatrick cordially invites you to attend a briefing on the recent VA reform legislation. She will give an update on what these changes mean for veterans and she welcomes your input and feedback.
What: VA Reform Community Briefing with Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick
Where: Marana Municipal Complex - 11555 W. Civic Center Drive
When: Thursday, August 14th - 12:00 - 1:00pm
To RSVP, please respond to this email or call Zak Royse (office 520-382-2663; cell 520-561-0227).
Negative replies are appreciated. Details on the legislation are noted below.
Thank you,
Zak Royse |Caseworker
Office of Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01)
11555 W. Civic Center Drive #104A | Marana, AZ 85653 | 520-382-2663
The House and Senate have passed the Veterans' Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. It now awaits the President's signature into law. The finalized legislation reflects the Sanders-McCain bill and companion bill that Rep. Kirkpatrick introduced in the House. It appropriates $15B for expanding access to care to non-VA providers, and for the expedited hiring of VA doctors, nurses, and medical support staff. It also gives the VA Secretary the authority to immediately fire VA employees for poor performance.
A few key parts of the legislation:
- Expanded access to care: veterans that live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility (hospital or CBOC), or cannot get an appointment at a VA medical facility within 30 days may get health care from a non-VA provider. These providers are:
o A private provider that accepts Medicare (this includes the network of TriWest providers)
o Federally qualified health care providers (eg: Community Health Centers)
o DoD facility
o IHS facility
- Every veteran will receive a Choice Card with VA contact information so that non-VA providers that qualify (from the list above) may treat a veteran, check for a veteran's eligibility, and allow a veteran to contact the VA to get an appointment either at the VA or from a non-VA provider.
o To be eligible for this program, a veteran must be enrolled in the VA, or be an Iraq/Afghanistan combat veteran entitled to 5 years of health care from the VA following separation from active duty military service.
- Strengthens the partnership between the VA and IHS: The VA must conduct outreach with IHS facilities to raise awareness that veterans eligible for care at VA facilities and IHS facilities may see providers at IHS facilities, and that IHS providers can be reimbursed for providing care to veterans.
- Increases the use of mobile vet centers and telemedicine services
- Authorizes the expedited hiring of doctors, nurses, and medical support staff to address the VA's staffing shortage. $5B of the appropriated funds will go towards hiring more VA providers.
- Improves access to care for military sexual assault survivors. This includes allowing active duty service members to receive care and counseling at VA medical facilities
- Authorizes the lease of 27 VA medical facilities. This includes another CBOC in Phoenix. $20M has been set aside for the Phoenix facility lease.
- Extends full Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to surviving spouses of service members that die in the line of duty.
- Ensures that all recently separated veterans taking advantage of the Post 9/11 GI Bill receive in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.
