The goal is to make it easier for veterans to get the health care they need and to cut down wait times at the VA.
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The Veteran and Military Health Care (VMHC) program at the University of Colorado College of Nursing is offering online courses based on the unique needs of veterans and military service members. “Long wait times put our veterans” health in jeopardy and are simply unacceptable.
“The Douglas County Veterans Forum is pleased to endorse the ‘Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act, ‘” said John McDonald, President of the Douglas County Veterans Forum.
“Our veterans have stepped up, taken the oath, and put on the uniform so that the rest of us can live in a country that is safer and more secure”, said Merkley.
At least 40 veterans died while waiting for healthcare after being placed on a “secret” waiting list at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system. The act would ensure a veteran could see a doctor when they want.
The number of appointments that are not completed within 30 days has increased from 300,000 to 500,000. While many states allow them to practice across their full range of skills, giving health care systems better flexibility to meet patient needs, the VA has not yet granted APRNs this full practice authority. The Veterans Freedom of Health Care Act, which I introduced, is supported by Democrats, Republicans, local veterans organizations and health care providers. Not when the VA can see them.
Building and Retaining a Rural Health Care Workforce: Rural VA clinics often face high turnover among doctors, nurses and other staff. The bill improves retention by establishing a pilot program to provide financial incentives for providers to work in rural areas, creating a training program to prepare health care providers for work in rural communities, and streamlining the hiring of retired military doctors into the VA health care system.
“There is a lot of debate about “choice” in veterans care, but when presented with the details of what “choice” means, veterans reject it”, Eaton said. Now they deserve a choice. Still, McDonald did not endorse proposals to provide veterans with vouchers to obtain care from private health care providers.
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Donald Norcross represents New Jersey’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
