Wichita Standard

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has led 19 colleagues in urging Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to address policy changes that they believe are hindering veterans' access to care.

In 2018, Congress passed the MISSION Act to expand veterans' ability to receive care from community health providers. However, recent actions by VA leaders have been perceived as limiting these opportunities. "Congress has never failed to provide VA with the resources required to fulfill its mission," the Senators wrote. They emphasized that if there is a belief within the VA that funding is insufficient, resources should be reprioritized from non-patient care areas instead of implementing cost-saving measures that reduce veteran choice and potentially endanger lives.

Senator Moran was joined by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.).

The letter highlights a recent shift in strategy at the VA, which they argue undermines the benefits brought about by the MISSION Act. In January, Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Under Secretary for Health, commissioned a panel known as "Red Team" to assess community care spending trends. The panel's findings suggested reducing community care referrals for emergency, oncology, and mental health services—a move viewed as detrimental by the Senators.

The letter also points out specific cases where veterans had their community care authorizations revoked under questionable circumstances. For instance, one veteran had his chemotherapy treatment interrupted just two sessions before completion due to canceled authorization. Another case involved a veteran being denied community-based radiation and chemotherapy following surgery for cancer recurrence.

Concerns were also raised about non-narcotic pain relief treatments being replaced with opioid prescriptions—contrary to VA’s Opioid Safety Initiative aimed at reducing opioid use among veterans.

Additionally, whistleblowers within VA medical facilities have reported increased scrutiny on community care referrals aimed at recapturing patients into VA facilities amid strategic hiring pauses and staff reductions. This situation raises concerns about increased wait times and additional burdens on already strained staff.

The Senators assert that despite assurances of adequate funding from Secretary McDonough and no additional budget requests over advance appropriations in recent fiscal years, limitations on community care continue due to alleged budget shortfalls.

They concluded by urging immediate action against Red Team recommendations and reaffirming veterans' right to seek community care: "Our nation’s veterans are waiting."