Congress approves bill to
eliminate sunset date for Veterans Choice Program
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[April 14, 2017]
LINCOLN
- Currently Veterans with VA healthcare who live more than 40 miles
from a VA Medical center or VA clinic or who are on a wait list for
longer than 30 days or are expected to wait at least that long can
choose a VA health care option called the “Veterans Choice Program.”
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Apr/14/images/ads/current/charrons_bch041713.png)
This program allows veterans already enrolled in VA health care to
receive health care within their community. Veterans should not set
up their own appointments with their care physician but rather
should call the Choice Program call center at 866-606-8198 to have
an appointment set by the Veterans Choice personnel.
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Under the current law the Choice Program was to expire when
either the appropriated money was exhausted or August 7, 2017, whichever
occurred first. On March 7th, David Shulkin, VA Secretary, asked congress to
eliminate the mandatory expiration date as funds are anticipated to be
available. Since then, a bill to eliminate the expiration date has made its way
through Congress and was presented to President Trump on April 7th. It is not
known when the funds will be exhausted at this time but this elimination of the
mandatory expiration date will allow the Choice Program to continue past August
7th.
Any veterans with questions are encouraged to call the Logan County VAC at
217-732-7388 or visit the VAC on the First floor of the Logan County Courthouse.
[Dan Benedict, Logan County VAC
Superintendent] |