A plan to change rules regarding veterans seeking community medical care at government expense could have a wide-reaching impact on the national health care debate.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials say an unauthorized, secret waiting list for psychotherapy appointments at Omaha’s VA hospital delayed care for 87 veterans this year.
The plan would ease rules concerning veterans seeking medical appointments outside the VA system at government expense, potentially sending tens of thousands of them into the private sector for care.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers wants an outside review of VA budgeting practices and more notice before emergency funding requests are sent to Congress.