Bill to Give Veterans Full Access to Private, Local Medical Care

On Tuesday, Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) introduced legislation that will allow veterans full access to private, local medical care.

The Full Choice for Veterans Act is the bill that Representative Byrne expects to pass before congress. It will widen eligibility of the Veterans Choice Program to all veterans. Veterans will get a card to receive care from private doctors or hospitals with the Veterans Choice Program. As of right now, access to the VA Choice Program is restricted to only allow vets that have waited 30 days or longer for VA care or vets that reside more than 40 miles away from a VA facility.

Congressman Byrne’s bill will change it so that every veteran can access health care providers in their local community, no matter what the veteran's situation is.

Byrne stated, “Veterans should not be forced to remain in a VA system that is dysfunctional and broken. This is why Congress created the Choice Card program a few years ago to give veterans greater access to private medical care in their local community. Sadly, the VA created roadblocks to limit veteran access to the Choice Card program. Our veterans deserve better.

“Under the Full Choice for Veterans Act, we will give veterans the choices they need and access to timely medical care. Even more, I think we can actually save taxpayer money by cutting down on the bloated VA bureaucracy. This is a win-win situation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this legislation.”

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