WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), applauded the Senate’s swift action to unanimously pass legislation that he cosponsored to expand veterans’ healthcare options. S. 1463, the Access to Community Care for Veterans Act of 2015 would allow more veterans to utilize the Veterans Choice Program, which allows veterans to access non-VA care using a Choice Card.

“The Veterans Choice Program was intended to reduce the burden on our veterans and make healthcare easier to access,” Brown said. “This bill would provide flexibility in healthcare options for the veterans who need it most.”

Currently, veterans who live within 40 miles from a VA medical facility, including a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) but require specialty care may not use their Choice Card to access care outside of the VA health system, forcing them to spend up to several hours traveling to a VA medical center. The Access to Community Care for Veterans Act of 2015 would amend the program to allow these veterans to use their Choice Card at other medical centers, recognizing that some veterans require care that is not offered at their local VA medical facility. The bill would require the VA to calculate the 40 mile eligibility requirement to reflect driving distance instead of using straight line distance.

Brown continues to work to address issues facing Ohio veterans. In February, Brown joined his Senate colleagues in urging the VA to abandon plans to reduce funding for the program by reallocating VCP funds to other VA initiatives, and to change eligibility for the VCP so that more veterans living in remote areas will be able to access medical care. In March, Brown announced that the VA would change the mileage requirements for veterans seeking medical care.

Brown served on the veterans’ conference committee to negotiate the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, legislation signed into law August 7, 2014 to ensure accountability at the VA while improving the delivery of health care provided to our nation’s veterans.

 

 

 

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