WASHINGTON – Today, the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018, or VA MISSION Act for short, passed in the Senate. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, includes a provision cosponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa that would help VA health care professionals provide telemedicine services to veterans and service members in rural communities.
The VA MISSION Act includes some of the most significant reforms proposed to-date to improve the VA’s health care delivery system and help provide veterans with more choice and fewer barriers to receiving the care they need. It would help improve the VA’s ability to hire quality health care professionals, expand VA caregiver benefits to veterans of every era and establish a process to evaluate and reform the VA’s existing facilities.
The provision led by Sen. Joni Ernst and cosponsored by Grassley specifically focuses on helping to improve existing VA health care and services by removing barriers for VA health care professionals to practice telemedicine. In states like Iowa, veterans living in rural communities have increased difficulty receiving the medical care they need due to distance from their nearest VA hospital.
“Iowa is home to thousands of veterans and active service members, all deserving of world-class health care. Their ability to receive medical care shouldn’t be determined by where they live,” Grassley said. “Sen. Ernst’s provision to help VA health care providers practice telemedicine and serve veterans in rural communities will help our heroes in Iowa and throughout the country get the quality care they need and deserve.”
The VA MISSION Act passed in the House of Representatives on May 16, 2018 by an overwhelmingly bipartisan margin. It has also received broad support from 38 leading veterans groups, Acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie and the White House.
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