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'Not Libertarian VA' Says Veterans Affairs Secretary On New Plan For Managing Private Care

Veterans Health
/
Flickr

This week the Department of Veterans Affairs rolls out a major overhaul of how the nation’s veterans receive private healthcare through the VA. Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie has previously committed to expanding VA services and says the new prorgam is "not libertarian VA."

The practice of sending veterans to private providers, known as the Veteran’s Choice program, began under the Obama Administration as a way to address long wait times at VA facilities and better serve veterans in rural areas.

But VA Secretary Robert Wilkie says it was rushed into existence and has created administrative challenges for the second largest department in the federal government.

The VA Mission Act of 2018, which Wilkie's department will implement on June 6th, seeks to remedy those adminsitrative issues to better serve veterans and private providers.

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