Hearing of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee - Exploring the Implementation and Future of the Veterans Choice Program

Hearing

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing. As the daughter of a World War II veteran, I
believe making sure our country keeps the promises we've made to our nation's heroes should be
at the top of our list of priorities, all of the time. Taking care of our veterans when they come
home is a fundamental part of who we are as a nation and we must make sure that the
Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) has the tools and resources it needs to provide critical care
and support. It is part of the cost of going to war.

Ensuring that all veterans receive quality care in a timely manner remains a critical issue. The
Department must work quickly resolve challenges associated with the implementation of the
Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act. I continue to hear from veterans about delays
and confusion in getting care through the Choice Program -- and delays in filling positions
created by this legislation. This is very concerning to me.

No doubt, the $5 billion we gave to build and strengthen VA for the long-term is making a
difference in some areas, but there is much more to be done. In my home state of Washington,
we are seeing some positive effects of this legislation in addressing critical shortages, as several
VA medical centers have already announced they will hire hundreds of new medical care staff.
They will also be able to upgrade and expand many of the facilities in Washington.

It is critical that VA uses that $5 billion as it was intended by Congress: to hire more providers,
create more usable clinical space, and improve access to care for veterans. The Department
should not be diverting this money from those serious needs to make up for the failures in
constructing the Denver hospital.

Despite this, low utilization of the Choice Program and increasing delays make it clear that it's
time to start planning now for what the future of non-VA care will look like. The Choice
Program was a temporary, emergency authority. When it expires, VA needs to have one
reformed program in place to help veterans access care outside VA in a way that complements
services provided by VA, provides coordinated care with strict quality of care requirements, has
consistent processes and eligibility rules, and is cost effective. I look forward to working with all
of you on this important task.

Finally, I would also like to thank both panels of witnesses for testifying at this hearing. Your
hard work is very important for us as we work to make sure there are adequate resources to
provide veterans the benefits and care they have earned.

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