{"id":2132,"date":"2025-08-07T11:25:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T03:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/?p=2132"},"modified":"2025-08-07T11:25:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T03:25:08","slug":"veterans-health-care-reform-congress-proposes-easier-access-to-local-non-va-clinics-and-hospitals-for-rural-vets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/?p=2132","title":{"rendered":"Veterans Health Care Reform: Congress Proposes Easier Access to Local Non-VA Clinics and Hospitals for Rural Vets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Tags: Veterans Affairs, VA Community Care, Rural Health Access, Non-VA Medical Clinics, VA Health Reform, Chiropractic Care for Veterans, Military Healthcare Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lawmakers Push to Expand Access to Non-VA Healthcare for Veterans<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Efforts in Congress are ramping up to make it easier for U.S. veterans\u2014especially those in rural areas\u2014to access healthcare services outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system. Proposed legislation from Republican senators would allow veterans to seek treatment at nearby non-VA clinics and hospitals without cumbersome approval processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, millions of veterans rely on VA facilities, but critics say delays, distance, and limited services leave many without timely or adequate care. The proposed reforms aim to fix that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Veterans Struggle With Bureaucratic Hurdles for Basic Care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>John-Paul Sager, a Marine Corps and Army veteran, regularly seeks chiropractic care to manage chronic pain from his military service. While the VA covers his treatment at a private clinic in Waterloo, Iowa, Sager says the process of getting approval can involve multiple phone calls and frustrating delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt seems like it takes entirely too long,\u201d Sager said, expressing a sentiment shared by many rural veterans who are required to get VA referrals, even for routine or recurring treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New Bills Target Red Tape and Long Travel Times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced a bill that would allow veterans living within 35 miles of a rural \u201ccritical access\u201d hospital to use VA benefits there without prior VA authorization. Cramer highlighted that some veterans in North Dakota must drive hundreds of miles to the nearest VA hospital while passing by several community hospitals along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis doesn\u2019t make any sense at all,\u201d Cramer said. \u201cMy main concern is for veterans, not for the VA.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Supporters say these changes would save time, expand access, and better utilize existing local health infrastructure\u2014especially in underserved areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Critics Fear Erosion of VA\u2019s Core System<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not everyone is on board. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, warns that diverting funds to private care could weaken the VA\u2019s ability to deliver specialized, veteran-focused care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe must prevent funds from being siphoned away from veterans\u2019 hospitals and clinics,\u201d he said. \u201cVeterans cannot afford for us to dismantle VA direct care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Organizations like Disabled American Veterans agree that while improvements are needed, the VA should remain the primary care provider. Their concern is that increased private spending will lead to diminished resources for VA facilities already struggling with staff shortages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local Clinics Support Reform, But Paperwork Is a Barrier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Linda Gill, office manager at Vanderloo Chiropractic Clinic, said her team treats about a dozen veterans through the VA community care program. While the reimbursement rates are fair, she said the administrative burden is heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating,\u201d she noted, adding that they\u2019ve considered leaving the program due to the complexity\u2014but continue because of the veterans they serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Veterans like Sager appreciate the VA\u2019s mission and care, but they hope the system can evolve to better meet modern needs. \u201cYou just feel like you\u2019re being taken care of by your own,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it shouldn\u2019t be so hard to get basic care nearby.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bipartisan Support for Reforming Community Care Access<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With growing bipartisan momentum, the House has already approved a $34.7 billion funding boost for the VA community care program in 2026\u2014a nearly 50% increase from 2025. The Senate has passed a similar measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins has pledged to strengthen both the community care program and the existing VA hospital system. Lawmakers and advocates agree: veterans deserve fast, accessible, and quality care\u2014whether that\u2019s through the VA or a clinic just down the road.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tags: Veterans Affairs, VA Community Care, Rural Health Access, Non-VA Medical Clinics, VA Health Reform, Chiropractic Care for Veterans, Military Healthcare Benefits Lawmakers Push to Expand Access to Non-VA Healthcare for Veterans Efforts in Congress are ramping up to make it easier for U.S. veterans\u2014especially those in rural areas\u2014to access healthcare services outside of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"saved_in_kubio":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2132"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2133,"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2132\/revisions\/2133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportpro.cc\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}