Policy

VA reform bill can help rural veterans

A key portion of the veterans bill approved by Congress will help rural veterans have better access to health care. Among many provisions, the legislation would allow veterans who live at least 40 miles away from a VA facility to seek medical care outside of the VA health system. Veterans who face long delays in getting VA appointments could also use outside care. The bill authorizes $10 billion in emergency mandatory funding to subsidize the outside medical care. The House of Representatives passed the bill — HR 3230 — by a near-unanimous vote of 420 to 5 on July 30. The Senate approved the bipartisan legislation 91 to 3 on July 31 and sent it to the President, who is expected to sign it.