Congress is looking to alleviate the use of old warriors for health care outside the Ministry of Old Warriors Affairs

John-Paul Sageer appreciates the care he received in the hospitals of the Ministry of Old Warriors, but it is believed that it should be easier for old warriors like him to use their benefits elsewhere.

Saqir, a marine atmosphere and an army expert, uses VA coverage for non -VA treatment for back injuries caused by his military service. But he said that sometimes several phone calls must obtain approval to see the local bone. "It seems that it takes completely long," He said.

Many old warriors live hours of VA facilities, or they need healthy services that are not easily available from VA. In such cases, the administration is supposed to provide referral and payment for special care. Some warriors’ preachers say it is often hesitant to do so.

Republicans who control Congress aim to simplify the process of obtaining what is known as community care.

Two members of their Republican Senate are Legislation This would make it easier for Rural warriors to seek care for local hospitals and clinics. The proposals will be based on the VA community care programs that started during the era of Democratic President Barack Obama and expanded in Trump’s first state.

Critics are worried that the veterans of the veterans to private care facilities drain federal funds from the VA Hospital and the clinic system. But supporters say that old warriors should not be forced to travel for long distances or wait months for the treatment they can obtain in local hospitals and clinics.

"My main concern is for old warriors, not for va," Senator Kevin Kermer (RN.D) told KFF Health News. "I do not think we have a commitment to preserving bureaucracy."

400 miles drive to VA Hospital

About 9 million old warriors were recorded in the VA health system. Last year, about 3 million of them-including 1.2 million inventors of rural warriors-used their benefits to cover sponsorship in non-VA facilities, according to data provided by the administration.

Church Under a draft law This would allow ancient warriors living 35 miles from the countryside, "Critical access" The hospital to use VA benefits to cover care there or in clinics without referrals from VA employees.

Kramer, who works for the Old Warriors Affairs Committee in the Senate, indicated that his mandate has only one hospital in the Ministry of Old Warriors Affairs. It is in Fargo, on the eastern border of the state, which is more than 400 miles by car from parts of the northwestern Dakota.

He said that many of the old warriors in Dakota in North Dakota are leading multiple community hospitals to reach the Ministry of Affairs of Old Warriors for Treatment. Meanwhile, many rural hospitals are desperate for more patients and income. "I thought I was thinking about myself, “This has no meaning at all.”" Kramer said.

Kramer said the previous laws, including VA mission lawMake it easy for warriors to use their benefits to cover care in community hospitals and clinics.

But he said that ancient warriors still have to fill many paper works and obtain approval from VA employees to use other VA facilities.

"We cannot allow VA itself to determine whether the veteran is qualified to receive local care," He said.

US MP Mark Tacano of California, the largest democratic of the Old Warriors Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, said he sees the need for external care for some of the old warriors. But he claims that Republicans go abroad to transfer the department’s money to support private health care facilities.

VA provides specialized care that responds to the needs and experiences of old warriors.

"We must prevent the money from getting rid of hospitals and old warriors clinics, or will collapse VA," Takano said in a statement issued by his office. "Old warriors cannot afford to dismantle direct care in VA in favor of converting more care to society."

VA protection

The invitation groups of some of the old warriors also expressed their concerns.

John Retzer, Deputy National Legislative Director of Old American Disabilities, said that the group wanted to facilitate the old warriors to find care. He said that old warriors and old warriors living in rural areas can face a difficult time to find appropriate time services in Hospitals and VA clinics.

However, the old disabled warriors do not want to see VA facilities weaken by transferring a lot of federal funds to private hospitals and clinics.

Ritzer said it is correct that patients are sometimes waiting for VA, but also patients in many hospitals and private clinics. He said that most of the delay stems from employee deficiency, which affects many health facilities. "This is a national crisis."

Ritzer said that the old disabled warriors prefer to continue requesting referrals from VA doctors before the ancient warriors were able to care elsewhere. "We want to make sure that VA is the main provider of that care," He said.

The Minister of Affairs of the Veterans Doug Collins pledge To improve the community care program while maintaining the strength of department hospitals and clinics. The administration refused to request KFF health news to meet Collins.

Marcus Lewis, CEO of the First Care Health Center, which includes a hospital in Park River, North Dakota, supports Cramer’s Bill. Louis is an old naval warrior who uses the option to care for the community in the Ministry of Old Warriors Affairs to pay the costs of treating a back injury caused by his military service.

In general, Lewis said, the community care program has become easier to use. But the application process remains complicated, and the participants must obtain VA reflection repeatedly to treat chronic issues. "It is frustrating."

Park River is the town of 1400 people about 50 miles south of the Canadian border. Hospital consisting of 14 families provides a set of services, including surgery, cancerous care, and mental health treatment. But Lewis regularly sees the VA vehicle caught the older warriors, some of whom travel 140 miles away to Vargo for the care they are entitled to locally.

"I think many people do not want to fight the regime," He said. "They do not want to see the additional hoops, so they will jump in the truck, and they will ride."

Representative Mike Post (R-head), Chairman of the Old Warriors Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, said that old warriors in some regions of the country faced a greater problem than VA’s approval of sponsorship of clinics and private hospitals.

Help Post The approval of the House of Representatives To obtain Trump’s request for $ 34.7 billion for the community care program in 2026. Although spending on the program has increased and decreased in recent years, the allocation represents a 50 % increase than what it was in 2025 and 2022. The Senate included similar numbers for the next year in its copy of the budget for military spending that August 1 passed.

Post also participated in its patronage Home Law draft It would clarify VA requirements to pay societal care costs.

Sager hopes that the new proposals will make life easier for old warriors. The veteran lives in the Gulf War in the northeastern city of Denver. He travels about 15 miles away to Waterllow to see the bone lean, which he treats for back and shoulder pain from the injuries he suffered during the training of Saudi forces in manual fighting.

Sagger, who is still active in the army reserve, visits a clinic at the outpatient clinic in Waterloo, which is run by the Ministry of Old Warriors Affairs, where he exercises an initial care doctor. It estimates the agency’s mission, including its employment for many old warriors. "You just feel that you take care of her by you," He said.

He believes that VA can manage a strong hospital and a clinic with alternatives to old warriors who live away from those facilities or who need care that VA cannot immediately provide.

Local VA does not provide sponsorship of the spine, so it is useful for Sageer to visit the private clinic. But every few months, it needs to obtain new approval from VA. He said this often requires several phone calls.

Linda Gil, office manager, said that Siger is one of about ten ancient warriors who use the community care program to pay the price of visits at Vanderlu clinic to evaluate the spine.

Gil said that the VA program is paying about $ 34 for a model visit, which is similar to special insurance, but paperwork is more stressful. She said that the leaders of the spine calendar looked at the withdrawal from the VA program, but they decided to bear the troubles for a good reason. She wishes to be ancient warriors to have to jump through many hoops for comfortable care.

"After what they did to us? please," She said.

KFF Health News It is a national news room that produces an in -depth press on health issues and is one of the basic operating programs in KFF.

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