VA expands private care eligibility
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/261654-va-expands-private-care-eligibility
VA expands private care eligibility
By Rebecca Kheel - 12/01/15 01:43 PM EST
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced on Tuesday changes to a program that are expected to make it easier for veterans to seek out private healthcare.
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Originally, much of the criticism was focused on the criteria that veterans live 40 miles away from a VA center as the crow flies. In April, that requirement was changed to 40 miles of driving distance.
Tuesdays changes further loosened the distance requirement to mean more than 40 miles driving distance from the closest VA medical facility with a full-time primary care physician. VA employees will also be given discretion to decide who is eligible based on whether the veteran faces an unusual or excessive burden in getting to the closest VA facility, including geographic challenges, environmental factors or frequency of the care.
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