House OKs emergency funding for Veterans Choice

WASHINGTON — The House overwhelmingly approved a $3.9 billion emergency spending package to address a budget shortfall at the Department of Veterans Affairs that threatens medical care for thousands of veterans.

The bill would provide $2.1 billion to continue funding the Veterans Choice program, which allows veterans to receive private medical care at government expense. Another $1.8 billion would go to core VA health programs, including 28 leases for new VA medical facilities.

The bill was approved 414-0 Friday and now goes to the Senate.

The Choice program was put in place after a 2014 wait-time scandal that was discovered at the Phoenix VA hospital and spread throughout the country. Veterans waited weeks or months for appointments amid phony records that covered up the lengthy waits.

A priority of President Donald Trump, the program allows veterans to receive care from outside doctors if they must wait at least 30 days for an appointment or drive more than 40 miles to a VA facility.

VA Secretary David Shulkin has warned that, without legislative action, the Choice program will run out of money by mid-August, causing delays in health care for thousands of veterans.

The bill would extend the program for six months and devote $1.8 billion to authorize 28 leases for new VA medical facilities and establish programs to make it easier to hire health specialists. Costs would be paid for by trimming pensions for some Medicaid-eligible veterans and collecting fees for housing loans.

David Shulkin