Doctors of chiropractic treating veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Choice Program (VCP) have been receiving letters from contractors administering the program informing them that the VCP is scheduled to expire, by law, on Aug. 7, 2017. However, with an additional $1 billion in dedicated funding remaining in the program, legislation was introduced to eliminate the August 2017 sunset date.
The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on April 5 to pass S.544, introduced by Montana Senator Jon Tester. The broadly supported bi-partisan bill passed the Senate earlier in the week (April 3), and now with House approval it will go to the president’s desk for his signature.
The VCP was created to allow eligible veterans to seek care in the private sector if they live 40 miles from a VA facility or have to wait for more than 30 days for an appointment. It has enabled veterans to have increased access to chiropractic care.
The ACA government relations team continues to monitor developments regarding VCP, and will report any additional progress on this issue to provide clarity to ACA members who serve our nation’s veterans.
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Jack Dusik is senior director of federal government relations at the American Chiropractic Association.
