Changes for veterans in need of medical help are coming soon.
This week, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced plans to help patients get better access to care when and where they want it.
“It’s a very good thing for veterans,” said Tony Fouse, an Army veteran who lives in Bradenton.
Fouse said thankfully, he and his friends, who visit the VFW Post 10141, in West Bradenton, have access to healthcare nearby.
“We go to 64 for basic care,” said Fouse. “Anytime you have to go for an operation or that type of thing, or something extensive, then you have to go to Bay Pines.”
Fouse and his fellow veterans visit the VA Outpatient clinic in East Bradenton when they are not feeling well.
If, they are in need of more serious care, they have to travel further to Bay Pines in St. Pete. It’s a commute that’s a little less than 40-miles away. However, not everyone has access to healthcare.
To help, in November, the VA started the Veterans Choice Program, a benefit which allows veterans to receive healthcare from a private provider if they live 40-miles or more away from a VA center.
Since then, thousands of veterans complained about the eligibility requirements and said they have not been able to qualify. Bill Essig’s friend was one of them.
“He lived over just 46 miles away,” said Essig, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired.
He said his friend, who had cancer, has passed away. Essig said his friend wanted to have treatment closer to his home in Cortez, but was denied. He thinks if he could have, he would have been better off.
“It would have certainly made his mind and being much,” said Essig.
George Nicolay, a veteran with the Navy and Marines, said he thinks not having access to healthcare close by causes veterans to not go for medical help like they should.
He said having to travel long distances is difficult for many veterans because they don’t have the transportation to get there.
“If they have no way to get there, obviously they are going to miss the appointment,” said Nicolay.
Under the original guidelines, veterans had to live at least 40 miles in a straight shot, or as the crow flies, from the nearest VA clinic.
The VA is now revising those guidelines and plans to measure the distance in driving miles.
“VA has worked very quickly to implement the Veterans Choice Program and we appreciate the constructive feedback shared by Veterans and our partners to help us improve service to Veterans,” said Secretary Robert McDonald. “We’ve determined that changing the distance calculation will help ensure more veterans have access to care when and where they want it. VA looks forward to the ongoing support of our partners as we continue to make improvements to this new program.”
The policy change will be made through regulatory action in the coming weeks. The change is expected to roughly double the number of eligible veterans.
The new policy will only affect veterans who live 40-miles away from a VA medical facility. Veterans who live within 40-miles, but need more advanced care, not offered at a nearby facility, do not qualify.
Veterans seeking to use the Veterans Choice Program should call 1-866-606-8198 to confirm their eligibility and to schedule an appointment.
VFW Post 10141
5105 Manatee Ave W
Bradenton, FL 34209
941-794-6394