House Veterans’ Affairs Committee last week released a slightly revised version of the VA Choice bill that would streamline and expand programs for veterans to obtain care in the private sector. Democrats in the House had blocked the measure from being included in last month’s omnibus spending legislation.
The bill, H.R. 5674, is called the Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks, or Mission, Act. It contains health IT-related provisions that would allow veterans to get telemedicine from any authorized provider across state lines, require that records of controlled substance use be shared through state prescription drug monitoring programs and order greater data sharing among community and VA providers.
The Mission Act will be marked up May 8. President Trump would like to sign the legislation into law by Memorial Day.
Click here to view an infographic on how private health care and Veterans Affairs work.
