The Department of Veterans Affairs has scheduled more than 2 million community healthcare appointments for retired service personnel under a program.
VA said Thursday the Veterans Choice Program is part of the Choice Act of 2014 that aims to provide veterans access to medical care within VA and their communities.
The department noted that VCP recorded a 103 percent growth in care authorizations between October 2015 and March 2016 and that there are now 350,000 healthcare facilities and community providers under the Choice Provider Network.
Other changes that VA introduced to the program include the designation of contractor staff with VA personnel at some locations as well as efforts to expedite payments to community health providers and streamline the submission process for medical records.
“We will continue to make strides towards an integrated care network, and I urge Congress to enact our Plan to Consolidate Community Care so we can continue to build upon our progress,†said VA Secretary Robert McDonald, an inductee into Executive Mosaic‘s Wash100 for 2016.
The Plan to Consolidate Community Care contains several legislative proposals, including a bill that would authorize VA to sign agreements with local health providers to facilitate community care access for veterans.
