VA Health Care Dims for Priority 8

By: fedweek

Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine, chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs health subcommittee, says it could take up to two years to resolve whether all veterans in Priority 8 would be made eligible for care at VA medical facilities. He expressed support for the concept but said he wants to ensure that extending care to more patients wouldn’t hurt the existing treatment of veterans with higher priorities. The VA’s patient workload also could rise because of legislation approved by the House and pending in the Senate that would increase from two years to five the virtually automatic treatment in VA facilities for combat veterans. VA has promised to provide a report on costs of adding Priority 8 veterans to the patient workload.