(Washington, DC) Congresswoman Corrine Brown made the following statement:
“I recently met with the leadership of the Jacksonville Outpatient Clinic to learn about the details behind the recent reports regarding the wait times for new patients. I am pleased that the clinic and its employees are very successful in treating our veterans, in fact, the facility is at full capacity. In addition, there are 125 new veterans enrolling each week.
The facility is working to get new doctors in to see patients. There are two starting this month, with four more being brought in over the next four months; additionally, the facility is extending weekend hours and making a concerted effort to rent more space.
As the most senior member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I strongly believe that the VA provides the best care for our nation’s servicemembers returning from protecting the freedoms we hold most dear, and I am committed to VA continuing their critical mission of serving our veterans. VA has served the special needs of returning veterans for over 75 years and has expertise in their unique healthcare needs, including prosthetics, traumatic brain injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), and a host of other veterans specific injuries. My focus continues to be on ensuring that the VA retains the ultimate responsibility for the healthcare our veterans receive, regardless of the provider.
The House passed, and President Obama signed, the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, which includes the Choice program for veterans. I served as a key conferee on bill negotiations, and advocated for community involvement in veterans’ healthcare. The recently passed Choice Program is a new, temporary benefit that allows some Veterans to receive health care in their communities rather than waiting for a VA appointment or traveling to a VA facility. The first round of Choice cards, along with a letter explaining the program, was issued on November 5 to Veterans who are eligible based on their place of residence (if a veteran lives more than 40 miles from the closest VA healthcare facility.) VA is now engaging in the next phase of its rollout –eligibility explanation letters are being sent to Veterans waiting more than 30 days from their preferred date to be seen or considered medically necessary by their physician.
As the new Ranking Democrat on the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I will work diligently to ensure that all veterans have access to the healthcare and benefits they have earned through their service to our great nation.”