House panel OKs plan to increase VA private care, a Trump pledge

A House committee approved a plan Tuesday to give veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the Veterans Affairs health system and fix a budget crisis in its troubled Choice private-sector program.

The action is a major step toward fulfilling President Trump’s promise to expand private care options.

The plan would mean that veterans could see private doctors at taxpayer expense when VA medical centers are unable to provide timely treatment or the care is deemed inadequate.