Omar Bennett
The Veterans Choice Act, or the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, was signed into law by President Obama on August 7, 2014. It is a United States public law that aimed to address the ongoing Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014, where veterans experienced long wait times to see doctors, and some even died while awaiting care. The Act expanded healthcare options for veterans, allowing them to receive timely and convenient care from non-VA facilities. It also shifted the cost of medical treatment to the veteran's private insurance plan and granted more power to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to fire senior executives. The Act's implementation and impact on veterans' healthcare access and costs are the subject of ongoing discussions and assessments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Act | Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 |
| Other names | Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014; Veterans Choice Act; Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act |
| Bill Number | H.R.3230 |
| Date | Introduced on October 2, 2013; passed on October 3, 2013 |
| Purpose | To address the ongoing Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014; to improve veterans' access to care and the VA's physical infrastructure; to improve the medical care that victims of military sexual assault receive |
| Provisions | Terminates the requirement that the Secretary furnish care and services through agreements with non-VA facilities; directs the Secretary to issue Veterans Choice Cards to eligible veterans; establishes the Veterans Choice Fund in the Treasury; expands the number of options veterans have for receiving care; grants the Secretary of Veterans Affairs more power to fire senior executives |
| Cost | Nearly $2 billion |
| Related Bills | S. 2450; H.R.244 - Veterans' True Choice Act of 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
The Choice Act's impact on existing VA healthcare
The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, also known as the Veterans Choice Act, was signed into law by President Obama on August 7, 2014. The Act was a response to the ongoing Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014, which revealed that at least 35 veterans had died while waiting for care in the Phoenix, Arizona Veterans Health Administration facilities.
The Choice Act allows eligible veterans to receive care from non-VA facilities, providing them with timely and convenient access to healthcare. This means that veterans who live far away from a VA health clinic (over 40 miles) or are unable to secure an appointment within a reasonable time frame can receive \"choice cards\" and seek treatment from alternative providers. These alternative providers include hospitals that accept Medicare, the military health program TRICARE, or facilities run by the US Department of Defense. The Act also shifts the cost of medical treatment to the veteran's private insurance plan, although this change has not been widely successful.
The Veterans Choice Program does not impact existing VA healthcare or any other VA benefits. However, the implementation of the Act has had an impact on the efficiency of VA hospitals. As more veterans used non-VA hospitals, the technical efficiency of VA hospitals decreased. This decrease in efficiency may be due to the challenges VA hospitals face in reducing input resources, such as operating costs and staff, in response to lower demand.
The Veterans Choice Act also had broader implications for the VA. It granted the Secretary of Veterans Affairs more power to fire senior executives, and it authorized the construction of 26 new VA facilities. Additionally, the Act included provisions for vast increases in staffing and facilities at existing VA medical centers, with approximately $500 million allocated for hiring more doctors and nurses.
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The Choice Act's funding and costs
The Veterans Choice Act, also known as the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, was signed into law by President Obama on August 7, 2014. The Act was created in response to the 2014 Veterans Health Administration scandal, which involved the systematic covering up of long wait times for doctors' appointments. By June 5, 2014, a total of 35 veterans had died while awaiting care in the Phoenix VHA system.
The Veterans Choice Act addresses this issue by expanding the options for veterans to receive care from non-VA facilities, thereby granting them more timely and convenient access to healthcare. Under the Act, eligible veterans who live over 40 miles away from the nearest VA health clinic or who are unable to secure an appointment within a reasonable timeframe can receive \"choice cards\" that allow them to seek treatment from non-VA providers. These non-VA providers are required to have similar credentials and licenses as VA healthcare providers and must submit annual verification of their licenses and credentials.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has conducted a preliminary analysis of the Act, estimating that it will cost nearly $2 billion. Approximately $500 million of this will be used for hiring additional doctors and nurses for the VA. The Act also shifts the cost of medical treatment and care to the veteran's private insurance plan, with the expectation of recovering $200 million from veterans' private health plans. However, with only 84,386 appointments made through the first six months of 2015, the shift towards the private sector has not been as successful as anticipated.
The Act also establishes the Veterans Choice Fund in the Treasury, which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to use to carry out the provisions of the Act. The amount used for administrative purposes is limited, but the Secretary can request a higher limit through a congressional notification process.
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The Choice Act's effect on the medical care of victims of military sexual assault
The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, also known as the Veterans Choice Act, was signed into law by President Obama on August 7, 2014. This Act was a response to the Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014, which revealed that veterans were experiencing long wait times to see doctors, and in some cases, veterans died while awaiting care.
The Act aimed to improve access to care for veterans by allowing them to receive treatment from non-VA facilities if they lived far away from a VA clinic or couldn't get a timely appointment. This was done through the implementation of the Veterans Choice Program, which provided eligible veterans with \"choice cards\" to seek treatment from non-VA providers. The Act also directed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish performance metrics and increase access to care and improve the VA's physical infrastructure.
The Veterans Choice Act has had a significant impact on the medical care of victims of military sexual assault. The Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act, also known as the Military SAVE Act, was introduced to amend the Veterans Choice Act and specifically address the needs of MST survivors. This amendment requires the VA to carry out a pilot program to provide hospital care and medical services to eligible veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST). The program aims to treat injuries or illnesses that a VA professional judges to have resulted from sexual assault, battery, or harassment during their military service.
The amendment also includes a provision for a survey of eligible veterans to assess the hospital care and medical services furnished to them. The VA is required to submit a report on the pilot program, including an assessment of health outcomes and recommendations for extending or making the program permanent.
The impact of the Veterans Choice Act on the medical care of military sexual assault victims is twofold. Firstly, it provides MST survivors with the option to seek treatment from non-VA providers, potentially improving their access to timely and convenient care. Secondly, through the Military SAVE Act, the VA is developing specialized programs to address the unique needs of this vulnerable population, ensuring they receive appropriate and effective care for their specific traumas.
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The Choice Act's role in addressing the 2014 Veterans Health Administration scandal
The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, also known as the Veterans Choice Act, was signed into law by President Obama on August 7, 2014. This Act was a response to the Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014, which revealed that the Veterans Health Administration had been systematically lying about the wait times veterans experienced when trying to see doctors. By June 5, 2014, 35 veterans had died while waiting for care in the Phoenix VHA system, and investigations identified several other VA medical centers with similar issues.
The Veterans Choice Act aimed to address these issues by improving access to care for veterans and granting the Secretary of Veterans Affairs more power to fire senior executives responsible for the mismanagement. The Act established the Veterans Choice Program, allowing eligible veterans to receive timely and convenient care from non-VA facilities instead of waiting for VA appointments or traveling long distances to VA centers. It also directed the Secretary to issue Veterans Choice Cards to eligible veterans, enabling them to seek treatment from non-VA providers.
Additionally, the Act authorized appropriations to improve veterans' access to care and enhance the VA's physical infrastructure. It established the Veterans Choice Fund to carry out these improvements and required the Secretary to report to Congress on the utilization of funds. The Act also addressed the medical care provided to victims of military sexual assault, shifting the cost of treatment to the veteran's private insurance plan.
The Choice Act gave the VA broader authority to contract with non-VA health care providers to ensure that eligible veterans received requested healthcare promptly. It also directed the Secretary to conduct outreach to Indian medical facilities operated by Indian tribes or tribal organizations, improving access to care for veterans utilizing these facilities. Furthermore, the Act included provisions for oversight and accountability, requiring assessments of the VA's verification of credentials and licenses of healthcare providers in non-VA facilities.
Overall, the Veterans Choice Act played a crucial role in addressing the 2014 Veterans Health Administration scandal by expanding healthcare options for veterans, enhancing accountability, and improving access to timely and quality healthcare services.
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The Choice Act's relationship with TRICARE Select
TRICARE is the health care program provided by the United States Department of Defense for the uniformed services community worldwide. It serves as a government-managed health insurance system, extending coverage to active-duty service members, their families, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families. TRICARE Select is one of the health plans offered by TRICARE.
TRICARE Select may be the right choice for those who live in an area where they cannot use TRICARE Prime, have other health insurance in addition to TRICARE (such as Medicare or employer-sponsored health insurance), or are seeing a provider who isn't in the TRICARE network and don't want to switch. Active-duty service members, including activated National Guard and Reserve members, cannot use TRICARE Select.
The defining feature of TRICARE Select is flexibility. Beneficiaries can choose any TRICARE-authorized healthcare provider, whether they are part of the TRICARE network or not. This means that, unlike TRICARE Prime, there is no requirement to have an assigned Primary Care Manager (PCM), and referrals are generally not needed to see specialists. This freedom of choice typically comes with higher out-of-pocket costs compared to Prime, including annual deductibles, cost-shares, and, for some beneficiaries (mainly retirees), annual enrollment fees.
To use TRICARE Select, eligible individuals must register in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), which is a database of information on uniformed services members, U.S.-sponsored foreign military, DoD and uniformed services civilians, and other personnel as directed by the DoD, as well as their family members. TRICARE Select Overseas is also available to eligible beneficiaries outside the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, also known as the Veterans Choice Act, is a United States public law that is intended to address the ongoing Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014. The law expanded the number of options veterans have for receiving care and granted the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs more power to fire senior executives.
The Act shifts the cost of the medical treatment and care to the veteran's private insurance plan and the Veterans Administration now requires joining the Choice program as a condition of receiving medical care. It also establishes the Veterans Choice Fund in the Treasury, which the Secretary shall use to carry out section 101 of this Act.
The Veterans Choice Act improved the medical care that victims of military sexual assault received. It also allowed eligible veterans to receive care from non-VA facilities, connecting them to timely and convenient access to healthcare, instead of waiting for a VA appointment or traveling long distances to a VA facility.
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