GOP lawmakers raise concerns over veterans access to health care amid pandemic

A group of House conservatives is arguing that Department of Veterans Affairs guidance during the coronavirus crisis could limit veterans’ access to health care in certain regions. 

The letter calls for any regulations that could prevent health care choices for veterans to be retracted as economies begin to reopen. It was sent Monday to Veterans Affairs Secretary Rob Wilkie. 

“As the various states begin to free their economies from draconian coronavirus restrictions, it is critical for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to immediately overturn any related bureaucratic actions that threaten our veterans' health care freedom,” wrote the GOP group, led by House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). 

“We are concerned with reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued new guidance that is limiting access to health care choices for veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in contravention of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-182) access standards (84 FR 26278).”