House passes VA Reform Bill
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By an overwhelming vote of 420 to 5, legislation to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 30 after fatal scheduling misconduct came to light earlier this year.
Second District Congressman Brad Wenstrup, who was appointed to the conference committee charged with negotiating a deal with the Senate, said he was especially enthusiastic with strengthened accountability provisions and inclusion of private-sector health care options.
"This bill begins to create the opportunity to restore that, because it puts our veterans first at every level” Wenstrup said.
“We’re ending the bureaucrat centered model to a more veteran centered model by expanding access to care for veterans with doctors outside the VA system as an option, and fixing the root causes of the recent scandal that kept veterans away from physician care.”
The legislation would provide immediate access to health care outside the VA to those veterans still waiting to be seen by a doctor, increase data and scheduling transparency, reduce bureaucratic bonuses, and give the VA Secretary greater discretion to fire employees.
Wenstrup concluded that “the government must ensure our veterans that the VA is working for them, and that commitment doesn’t end with this bill. This issue isn’t falling of my radar any time soon.” The legislation is expected to pass the Senate later this week.