The Department of Veterans Affairs implemented the largest changes to veterans health care in four years on Thursday, with Secretary Robert Wilkie hailing the changes as "putting veterans at the center of their care." Provisions of the VA Mission Act, signed by President Donald Trump last June, are now in effect, including a program that allows veterans to go to an urgent care facility for acute illness or injury and the Veterans Community Care Program, which expands access to health care services in the private sector. Under new Community Care rules, veterans who drive more than 30 minutes to a local VA facility or must wait more than 20 days for a primary care or mental health appointment may be eligible for private care. And if they drive more than 60 minutes to a VA facility or have to wait more than 28 days for a specialty care appointment, they will be considered for receiving care in the private sector. Read more about the new program on Military.com.
VA Rolls Out New Private-Sector Health Care Programs
