President Donald Trump has signed a bill to extend a Department of Veterans Affairs program that allows eligible military veterans to receive medical care from a civilian provider, DoD News reported Thursday.Trump said the Veterans Choice Program Extension and Improvement Act offers former service members an option to choose their care provider and eliminates the need to travel long distances for VA care.
The bill was approved by the Senate through a unanimous vote earlier this month to authorize VA’s use of funds appropriated for the Veterans Choice Program beyond the initiative’s Aug. 7 expiration date.
The White House said Wednesday the approved legislation also changes reimbursement and cost-recovery methods for care provided under the program.
It also authorizes the exchange of certain veterans medical records with non-VA care providers.
