“President Donald Trump’s expansion of a program aimed at steering more veterans to private health care is getting an $8.9 billion boost as part of the massive government spending bill approved by the House, setting up a potential battle over the direction of the Veterans Affairs Department.”
“The deal provides $81 billion for VA medical care to treat 9.3 million veterans, including the $8.9 billion for private care under a law passed last year expanding the Veterans Choice program. Another $11.3 billion is on tap for private care in 2021.”
“Major veterans groups have cautioned against ‘cannibalizing’ VA programs to pay for Choice, which they worry could lead to privatization of VA.”
“The program gives veterans wider access to private care when they have endured lengthy wait times or the treatment was not what they had expected. The price tag could soar as the expanded program takes hold, putting the VA at risk of future budget shortfalls…”
“House Democrats had pushed for Choice money to be exempt from budget caps, to avoid the risk of cuts to core VA programs as costs grow in the coming years. Ultimately, however, the money was kept under budget caps after the White House resisted.”
“The added money for Choice is part of a 6% increase to the total VA budget for the fiscal year ending next September…” Read the full article here.
Source: Budget deal advances VA private care program backed by Trump – By Hope Yen of the Associated Press, December 18, 2019. The Washington Post.
