WASHINGTON, DC  – In an effort to improve and reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, the United States Senate today overwhelmingly passed the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, cosponsored by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI).  The bipartisan package of reforms, authored by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and John McCain (R-AZ), is aimed at rectifying the systemic issues veterans have encountered while seeking the medical care they have earned from the VA.

“This legislation will help ensure our veterans get the timely care they deserve,” said Reed, a former Army Ranger.  “As the investigation into scheduling misconduct at the VA continues, we must implement reforms and fix the systemic issues at the VA as quickly and comprehensively as possible.  I’m glad to see the Senate take swift and decisive bipartisan action to do right by our veterans.”

The Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 addresses the excessive wait times some veterans have encountered when trying to schedule an appointment with VA doctors by upgrading scheduling systems and giving patients the option to seek care at community health centers, military hospitals or private doctors.  The bill authorizes emergency funds to hire new doctors, nurses and other care providers in response to the documented, system-wide health care provider shortages, and the legislation includes additional provisions to ensure timely access to care moving forward.  It also authorizes the leasing of 26 additional VA facilities, and gives the VA Secretary authority to dismiss senior executives with a track record of poor job performance while safeguarding against widespread political or scapegoat firings.

Reed joins the bill’s authors, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), as well as a bipartisan group of nearly two dozen cosponsors in supporting this critical legislation to keep our nation’s promise to its veterans.

Among other provisions, The Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014:

  • Upgrades the VA’s antiquated scheduling systems and takes steps to shorten wait times for veterans seeking care.
  • Creates a Tech Task Force on Scheduling to review the VA’s current scheduling needs.
  • Authorizes emergency funding to hire new doctors, nurses and other providers in order to address system-wide health care provider shortages.
  • Provides the VA Secretary with the necessary authority to dismiss senior executives based on a record of poor job performance, notwithstanding the 120-day moratorium in current law, and holds VA officials accountable for trying to conceal patient wait times.
  • Authorizes 26 additional VA medical facility leases.
  • Improves access to health care for military sexual assault survivors.
  • Establishes independent commissions on scheduling and care, as well as capital planning.
  • Expands Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition eligibility for surviving spouses of those who die in the line of duty.
  • Authorizes in-state tuition for all veterans at public colleges or universities.

The full text of the bill is available here.  The bill is now headed to the House of Representatives, which passed a similar measure on Tuesday.

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