Prioritize Veterans Over Bureaucracy!

The administration has a responsibility to follow the VA MISSION Act

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Dear Lawmaker:

I’m writing today because I am concerned about veterans being denied much needed medical care.

The Biden Administration is simply not honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. In addition to the 20 million appointments that have been canceled, denied, or delayed since the pandemic’s start, the VA is actively working to limit veterans’ health care options. Meanwhile, the administration is delaying a program meant to better tailor the VA to the needs of our veterans.

It’s disrespectful and unacceptable.

Documents released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by Americans for Prosperity Foundation revealed the VA’s failure to follow the law (and its own rules) by canceling appointments and refusing to refer veterans for community care. Worse, the administration is making it clear that it will go along with this skirting of the law.

Further, the VA quietly announced recently it will delay releasing recommendations for realigning VA health care facilities (AIR Commission). This move is a violation of requirements in the VA MISSION Act, and further pushes back needed efforts to review and assess VA facilities and the care they offer.

Something must be done.

I urge you to work with your colleagues on the Veterans Affairs committees to investigate and hold accountable those who continue to put the VA bureaucracy ahead of the veterans it is supposed to serve.

Respectfully,

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The VA MISSION Act, signed into law in 2018 with strong support from CVA, nearly 30 other VSOs, and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, is supposed to expand community care options for veterans. Instead, VA bureaucrats are again working to limit veterans’ ability to access care.

FOIA documents from the VA reveal that the problem is nationwide and embedded in VA training, policy, and guidance. Some key findings include:

VA’s failing to follow VA MISSION Act wait-time eligibility and denying community care.
VA’s canceling and rescheduling appointments without the agreement of the veteran or offering community care.
VA’s neglecting to advise veterans of their options and actively dissuading use of community care.

Another key piece of the VA MISSION Act is the establishment of an Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission, a panel whose purpose is to improve quality and access at the VA by reviewing what the VA currently owns, operates, and offers. The VA quietly announced recently it will delay releasing recommendations for realigning VA health care facilities. This move is a violation of requirements in the VA MISSION Act, and further pushes back needed efforts to review and assess VA facilities and the care they offer our veterans.

Delaying VA recommendations is just part of the pattern of the VA and the White House disregarding their responsibilities to get the AIR Commission off the ground.

The administration has a responsibility to follow law and should put the needs of veterans above the needs of the VA. Tell your members of Congress you want accountability for those who choose bureaucracy over veterans’ health care.