President Donald Trump has approved a bill that will allow veterans to seek healthcare services from the private sector if a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital fails to accommodate to their needs, the Washington Examiner reported Wednesday.
The VA Mission Act extends the VA’s caregiver program to all veterans as it initially only catered to former warfighters recognized after the 9/11 incident.
The new law also aims to support the renovation of VA facilities, as well as an initiative that intends to monitor controlled substance prescriptions of VA providers to avoid opioid addiction among veterans.
Acting VA Secretary Peter O’Rourke said in a statement that the department will work to implement the new law to modernize its services and further meet the healthcare needs of veterans.
O’Rourke also commended Trump, the chairmen and members of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and other entities responsible for the passage of the bill.