Phoenix VA launches federal program to improve health care for veterans

PHOENIX — The Phoenix VA launched a new federal program designed to improve veterans’ access to health care Thursday, one year after President Donald Trump signed it into law and on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy landings.

Under the MISSION Act’s Veterans Community Care Program, veterans can expect a variety of improvements.

MISSION is an acronym for maintaining internal systems and strengthening integrated outside networks.

“What this involves is the veterans being able to receive care in the community at the VA’s expense and also being able to have access to other services like urgent care and emergent care,” said Dr. Maureen McCarthy, Phoenix VA chief of staff.

Today the #MissionAct goes live at @DeptVetAffairs. The new program allows Veteran’s to get treatment in the community if appointments aren’t available in an appropriate time frame at their VA center. Plus, online treatment is available for both mental & physical health. @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/4zLkNmvYgt

— Ali Vetnar (@Ali_Vetnar) June 6, 2019

A new urgent care benefit allows veterans to go to any urgent care or walk-in care provider in the VA network without prior authorization. There may be copays depending on the assigned priority group and the number of times the benefit has been used.

“The Choice Act has ended but the choice is not going away. With the MISSION Act, it actually consolidates a lot of the systems into a more cohesive one system so we can help the veterans better,” said Dr. Isabel Kozak, Phoenix VA assistant chief of staff.

Under the new program, veterans who have to drive more than 30 minutes for primary or mental health care or 60 minutes for specialty care are eligible to go to a private doctor, and the VA will pay the bill.

The VA is working to modernize treatment and expand access options through its “telehealth” platform.

“It’s really seamless and efficient, just like a Skype or Facetime platform,” McCarthy said. “We’ve had 95-year-old veterans do this with us.”

Veterans can work with their VA health care provider or other VA staff to see if they are eligible for community care based on the new criteria.

Those eligible for outside services can chose to continue receiving care in the VA network.

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