Health Care for Veterans
High-quality health care is a vital public health promise to America’s veterans. While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the primary health care provider for this population, tax-paying hospitals have a history of working with the VA to provide care to veterans to help achieve this commitment to our nation’s heroes.
In June 2018, the President signed The John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks, or VA MISSION Act into law. The VA MISSION Act consolidates and improves VA community care programs and expands the ability for veterans to receive healthcare services by non-Department hospitals and doctors.
The VA Mission Act establishes a new Veterans Community Care Program by consolidating seven VA community care programs into one streamlined program. It establishes an expansive list of conditions under which care can be required to be furnished through non-Department providers, including community hospitals. FAH continues its advocacy efforts to assist member hospitals in their provision of care to America’s veterans and will provide support for any issues regarding hospital agreements with the VA to furnish hospital services to patients in non-VA hospitals under this new law.
