House Bills Expand Community Care and Harm VHA

House Bills Expand Community Care and Harm VHA

Washington D.C., December 16, 2024 – NOVA alongside our partners in VA healthcare: American Psychological Association, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders, Association of VA Social Workers, National Association of Veterans Affairs Physicians and Dentists, National Association of Veterans' Research, and Education Foundations and Veterans Affairs PA Association Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute, entered a statement for the record (SFR) 

on several bills designed to expand community care at the expense of internal VHA services.

The bills under discussion in the House contain provisions that would greatly accelerate the use of community care at VHA’s expense. If passed, they would lead to staff reductions, curtailment of programs, and closures of inpatient units, emergency rooms, and entire facilities. They would also prevent needed infrastructure upgrades and curtail critical research.

Despite growing demand for services with passage of the PACT Act and other legislation, some committee members continue to promote legislation that would divert resources and take away the option to “choose” VA from current and future Veterans.

NOVA President, Catherine Giasson DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC, CPHQ noted “Further increasing use of community care would only drain funding out of VA which erodes the VHA healthcare system. A healthcare system that equals or exceeds the quality of care provided by the private sector and what Veterans time after time have said they prefer.” 

NOVA will continue to advocate for more funding to enable VA to continue to hire healthcare providers, improve its infrastructure, and focus on research so that Veterans receive the highest level of integrated care. NOVA believes that VA has proven it is uniquely qualified to provide care to Veterans in a setting designed to understand those who have served and sacrificed in today’s modern military.

Hearing Link

View the Multiorganizational Statement for the Record from the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health Legislative Hearing