“A House committee approved a wide-ranging plan Tuesday to give veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the Veterans Affairs health system and fix a budget crisis in its troubled Choice private-sector program, a major step toward fulfilling President Donald Trump ‘s promise to expand private care options.”
“The $51 billion plan includes $5.2 billion to avert a catastrophic shutdown of Choice. The program is slated to run out of money as early as May 31, causing disruptions in medical care to tens of thousands of patients.”
“Separately, the House Appropriations Committee chaired by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen , R-N.J., passed a $194.5 billion funding plan for the VA in the next budget year beginning Oct. 1, an increase of $9 billion from the previous year. The proposal, which includes money for mental health services and a revamp of the VA’s electronic health records, will need to be approved…”
“The bill mirrors an agreement that key Republicans and Democrats had sought to include in a spending measure in March…” Read the full article here.
Source: House panel OKs plan to grow VA private care, a Trump pledge – By Hope Yen, May 8, 2018. Chicago Tribune.
