Local veterans who qualify for a VA safety net program established by Congress in the wake of last summer’s wait-time scandal will soon be more likely to receive covered care at a non-VA facility.
In August 2014, Congress passed the VA Choice Act, which gives veterans who can’t get an appointment at a VA facility within 30 days or live more than 40 miles from a VA facility the option to seek care at non-VA centers via a Choice Act Card.
On March 24, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will change the calculation method used to determine the distance between a Veteran’s residence and the nearest VA medical facility from a straight line distance to driving distance.
The straight-line calculation method has been criticized by those in rural communities, such as Cortez, which require mountainous commutes from town-to-town.
Rick Torres, director of Veterans Services in Montezuma County says the change is likely to help a lot of Montezuma County beneficiaries that have received Choice Act Cards and have had trouble taking advantage of the new program because of the straight line rule. The nearest VA facility to Cortez is Durango, about 45 miles away in Durango.
“What has been happening is what when they call the VA Choice Act Card contact number, many of our local veterans are told that they do not qualify because they live closer than 40 miles to the nearest VA medical facility. So they got these cards and couldn’t even use them,” Torres explained. “What I anticipate is a lot of veterans that before were calling and being denied, should now be eligible.”
The 40-mile rule adjustment was lauded by legislators Rep. Scott Tipton and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet when it was announced on Mar. 24.
“This is welcome news for veterans living in rural communities throughout Colorado and the nation, and finally meets the intent of the original reforms passed by Congress last year,” said Tipton in a statement. “Veterans deserve to have access to high quality healthcare in their communities, and while it’s frustrating that it has taken the VA this long to take corrective action on this issue, we are happy they have finally made it happen. We will continue to monitor the VA and keep an open line of communication with veterans in the 3rd District to make sure they are getting the care and responsiveness from the VA that they deserve.
While most parties agree the change is helpful, Torres hopes to one day see veterans be able to use VA benefit cards as a form of insurance that would allow vets to get care at any facility they choose.
“What I would like to have seen is that much like seniors on Medicare, can go to any doc that takes medicare, would’ve like to have seen them that they could use VA healthcare card at any doctor and not have to get permission from the VA to do so,” said Torres. “I think it would alleviate pressure, it would increase competition for services and it would give veteran’s control of their healthcare. Right now, the VA is in full control, if you don’t have Medicare or Aetna or United paying for services, you’re at the mercy of the VA health system.”
The recent policy change will be made through regulatory action in the coming weeks, the VA said.
The method of determining driving distance will be through distance as calculated by using “a commercial product,” and the agency expects the change to roughly double the number of eligible veterans.