Veterans Deserve Better Health Care Options

Long VA wait times are hurting America's veterans. They need options.

Sign The Letter

Dear Secretary McDonough:

Our nation’s veterans have served honorably. Now we must serve them. Since the MISSION Act became law, more veterans have been empowered with greater choice in their health care. But they need the VA to continue supporting and implementing the MISSION Act, so those options aren’t reduced or eliminated entirely.

While the Coronavirus pandemic lingers, more than ever, veterans need reliable, ready access to care. Reports have emerged of veterans being forced to travel extended distances or having appointments canceled – almost 20 million cancelations – throughout the pandemic. This cannot stand.

I am asking you to prioritize updating the old and outdated wait time calculations to reflect the current wait-time access standards to ensure health care decisions are made on the best, most up to date information. Additionally, I urge you to continue working to expand the options available to veterans through expanded community care and access standards.

Veterans deserve access to quality health care in a timely manner. As the leader of an agency so many veterans rely upon, please support providing maximum health care choice for our nation’s veterans.

CC:
President Biden
My elected Representatives in Congress

Respectfully,

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During COVID-19, VA wait times are increasing rapidly. According to the OIG, the VA cancelled millions of appointments after March 15, 2020 and failed to follow up with affected veterans. The VA should ensure veterans have access to community providers as required by law.

With the prevalence of COVID-19, the VA should remove barriers for veterans accessing health care, including continuing to ensure access to community providers guaranteed by the VA MISSION Act. Wait times at the VA are increasing, and to ensure veterans can receive quality and timely care the VA should expand health care delivery options by increasing the use of telemedicine and community care.

VA wait times and appointment backlogs will continue to grow unless the VA leverages the options it has within the VA MISSION Act to ensure veterans have access to timely and quality care — whether via telemedicine, community care, or within the VA.

The VA and elected leaders in Washington need to hear from you. Tell them you support giving our veterans more choice and power over their own health care choices.

Sign the letter: Veterans deserve more health care options!