U.S. Senate Passes VA MISSION Act of 2018

Statement

The U.S. Senate passes the VA MISSION Act of 2018. The veterans health reform bill will now go to the President for his signature.

"The Veterans Choice Program has allowed over 23,000 Kentucky veterans to seek care in their own communities last year. But some veterans are still left out. I recently heard from one Kentucky Navy veteran who lives 36 miles from the nearest VA provider. He served aboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Forrestal, and sustained a hand injury that still requires regular care. Under current law, because he lives 36 miles and not 41 miles from that facility, he can't receive covered treatment from a nearby provider who's right in his own community. He has to make the round trip several times a year to receive care," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "The VA MISSION Act removes those arbitrary time and distance requirements that limit eligibility for outside care. It replaces those one-size-fits-all policies with a conversation between veterans and their own doctors about what works best. This will empower more veterans to access the care they need -- when and where they need it."

Kentucky veteran organizations praise Congressional passage:

"The Kentucky VFW would like to thank Senator McConnell for his staunch support of Kentucky's servicemembers, veterans, and their families and his leadership in passage of the VFW-supported VA MISSION Act of 2018, which will help improve the health care VA provides veterans and will finally end the inequity of denying pre-9/11 veterans the caregiver benefits they deserve," said Kentucky VFW Commander Karle E. Johnson. "The enactment of this bill honors our nation's commitment to her veterans to provide them the services they have earned and strikes the right balance to make sure we strengthen the VA system and provide veterans with the best care possible."

"Kentucky disabled veterans greatly appreciate that Congress is finally taking action to correct deficiencies in the Care Giver Program. Fair and equal treatment under the law is all we've ever asked for, and the DAV appreciates Senator McConnell's support and the support of the Senate on this legislation," said Michael Sparks, KY DAV Judge Advocate and Past Chairman Joint Executive Council of Veteran Organizations of KY (JECVO of KY).

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