According to an article posted on MilitaryBenefits.info:
The VA Mission Act, signed into law on June 6, 2018, is designed to greatly improve veteran access to VA healthcare. The VA now must work on the criteria to be considered including wait times for VA appointments, quality of VA care and distance from a VA facility. This VA reform law affects a wide range of areas and the “official” name of this law says a lot of about its’ focus; informally known as the VA Mission Act, this legislation’s formal name is the VA Maintaining Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act.
Eliminating Funding Gaps, Consolidating Programs, And Modernization
The VA Mission Act addresses in-network and non-VA healthcare issues, veterans’ homes, access to walk-in VA care, prescription drug procedures, and much more. The VA Mission Act does some important things in the short term as well as introducing long-care fixes. The short term improvements are crucial for some veterans; the Act eliminates a gap in care due to funding issues associated with the VA Choice program.
VA Choice funding ended on May 31, 2018. VA Choice was designed to help veterans get non-VA healthcare if distance or wait list issues are a problem. VA Choice continues to be funded in the short-term until replaced.
The long-term fixes are associated with the replacement of VA Choice; the VA Mission Act consolidates seven different programs offering community care including VA Choice into a single entity. Funding is also provided for education and training, VA medical staff recruitment, and a review of VA medical facilities. This review process is intended as the first step in a modernization program for VA locations that need upgrades.
Read more: VA Mission Act on MilitaryBenefits.info
Caring Hands United Inc., Georgia Home Health Care Provider, is part of the Veterans Choice Program’s network of community providers. Learn More.
