The Department of Veterans Affairs is facing a budget debate in Congress ten years after a scandal involving wait times at VA medical centers. The VA has requested $369.3 billion for fiscal 2025, with a focus on increasing access to private health care services for veterans. Democrats believe in strengthening the VA’s medical infrastructure, while Republicans want veterans to have a choice in their care, including outside the VA. VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized providing care in VA facilities to improve outcomes for veterans.
The scandal in 2014 prompted Congress to pass the Choice Act and the Mission Act to increase access to care for veterans. The newly introduced PACT Act expanded eligibility for VA care, leading to a higher demand for services and a budget increase of nearly 13% for fiscal 2025. However, concerns remain about balancing community care costs and funding for VA-provided health services and staff.
The debate over where veterans should receive their health care comes as the Defense Department is also seeking to focus on providing treatment for service members in military treatment facilities. Concerns from veterans organizations like Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars highlight a push for investing in VA’s internal capacity over reliance on community care.
Conservative-backed veterans group Concerned Veterans for America held a press conference to address issues at the VA a decade after the Phoenix scandal, citing continued struggles for Arizona veterans in accessing care. Congress is divided on how to best fund VA care and where veterans should receive medical treatment, raising concerns about the future of veteran health care in America.
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