Press Releases

Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (VA MISSION Act) being signed into law and the launch of the community care program:

"One year ago today, President Trump delivered on his promise to better serve our nation’s veterans by signing the VA MISSION Act into law. The VA MISSION Act was the culmination of almost two years of tireless work with members of the Trump Administration, the Department, veterans service organizations, and my colleagues in the House and Senate to create a VA healthcare system that truly puts veterans first.

“Today, we are not only celebrating the anniversary of the VA MISSION Act but also the start of the new community care program the law requires. That new program marries the best of the private sector with the best of VA to give veterans more choices and greater control over the healthcare benefits they earned through their service. I am grateful to Secretary Wilkie and the VA employees nationwide who have worked hard every day for the last year so that VA is prepared for this day. While the rollout of this program is a significant win for veterans, it is certainly not the end of our work on their behalf and I look forward to continuing to ensure that they have access to the very best care, benefits, and services.”

Background:

The VA MISSION Act includes three pieces of legislation that have been considered by either the House or Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. The bill would streamline the department’s duplicative community care programs into one cohesive program; create a non-partisan process for reviewing VA’s assets to ensure veterans can access the care they have earned and expand the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Post-9/11 Caregiver Program to all eras. These reforms are supported by major Veterans Service Organizations. The bill also includes funding for the Choice Program that is expected to last until the new program authorized under the VA MISSION Act is implemented. Additionally, the bill contains a number of provisions that would strengthen VA's internal capacity to provide timely, quality care to veteran patients within VA medical facilities by improving and expanding VA's ability to train, recruit and retain the very best providers. To learn more about what the community care program means for veterans, click here. To learn about access standards for drive times, click here. To learn about access standards for wait times, click here.