01/28/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/28/2025 17:32
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC) held a hearing today to examine and discuss the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care program. Veterans and advocates appeared before the committee to highlight their experiences and the ongoing challenges veterans face when accessing care from VA direct care system and community providers.
In a rural state like North Dakota, with limited VA providers and facilities, the Community Care Program is a lifeline for many veterans looking to receive timely care at a location close to their home. However, the VA continues to put up road blocks for veterans trying to utilize this option.
During the hearing, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) emphasized the workforce shortage the healthcare industry is facing, reiterating the staffing mandate issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that makes it even worse. The rule requires the implementation of new staffing requirements at long-term care facilities which are already understaffed due to a lack of workforce. Cramer said, "Access is not just about the quality of care. It's about access, period, if the alternative is none."
"I think the best way to improve care is competition," said Cramer. "Whether it's a competition between the private sector and the public sector, or two private sectors, or two public sector agencies, a little bit of competition is fine. I don't want to gut the VA's direct care system […] that said, there are all kinds of barriers to Community Care, a lot of it is the bureaucracy itself."
Cramer said even in North Dakota, there are many examples of roadblocks being put up which prevent veterans accessing to Community Care.
"If we put the choice in the hands of the veteran, the market will determine where they go," stated Cramer. "The type of care they get will determine where they go, and how long the wait is will determine where they go."
"What I'd like to see us do […] is, for many of these critical access hospitals, their margins are very thin," continued Cramer. "They're barely hanging in there. Two or three more patients or five more patients in the community might be what keeps that hospital open. If it's 50 miles to the next hospital, or 350 miles to the VA hospital, that access to critical access hospitals might be the only option that could save a veteran. I'd like to make this automatic."
Cramer asked Jim Lorraine, President and Chief Executive Officer of America's Warrior Partnership, if this proposal was plausible to improve access to care in a very rural place.
"One of the things that I spoke about was continuity of care and not only continuity of care," said Lorraine. "As a healthcare provider, I want the family there, I want the physical therapist nearby, I want the staff that does this. And we talk a lot about mental health and substance abuse, but it's really more than that. We're talking about access to health care. […] We need to look at what's the best long-term outcome for a veteran in terms of getting their care. It may be the VA that's in their community, but it may be your local hospital that the family can be present, the physical therapist is there, the staff is invested and it's all one."