Benefits extended for Alabama vets

MOBILE, Ala. — Veterans Affairs health benefits have been extended to more than 142,000 veterans living in rural Alabama.

The extension of a federal program was approved by Congress to allow vets living more than a certain distance from a VA facility to seek private medical care outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Al.com reported. The vote allowed the program to last until the $1 billion within the program is used up.

Congress voted on the program’s extension Wednesday.

Now, veterans across the country can continue treatment after the program’s original expiry date this summer.

The Veterans Affairs Choice Card is designed for former military personnel facing lengthy wait times or who live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility. It was expected to expire in August.

More than 400,000 veterans live in Alabama, and 142,000 of them live in rural areas that are not within 40 miles of a VA facility.

The remaining Choice Cards funds are not expected to last until after the end of the year.

The Full Choice for Veterans Act would allow all veterans to choose whether they want to seek care outside of the VA. The act stems from Alabama Rep. Bradley Byrne’s bill.

“I will continue pushing to advance my bill, the Full Choice for Veterans Act, which would open the Choice Card program up for every veteran, regardless of where they live,” said Byrne Wednesday. “We must give veterans the choice of leaving the VA bureaucracy and instead allow them to receive care from doctors and specialists in their local community.”

The new Mobile VA clinic should be operational by summer 2018. The clinic is expected to increase services for the 65,000 veterans living in South Alabama.

The new facility will offer several services to veterans, including primary care, mental health, and women’s health.