Aug 07 Rural veterans face long paths to health care By Jen Fifield, Stateline While long drives and limited access to health care are familiar burdens for many rural residents, the problem is particularly acute for veterans in those areas. They are far older than other rural residents, and far more likely to be… Continue reading
Jul 28 After vets protests, new deal struck to end VA budget crisis By Hope Yen, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans and Democrats have reached agreement on a $3.9 billion emergency spending package to fill a shortfall in the Department of Veterans Affairs' program of private-sector care, seeking to avert a disruption to medical care for thousands… Continue reading
Jul 21 House unveils plan to fix VA's budget gap as deadline looms By Hope Yen, Associated Press A House committee has unveiled a plan that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to shift $2 billion from other programs to cover a sudden budget shortfall that threatens medical care for thousands of veterans in the coming weeks. Continue reading
Jun 24 Watch 25:03 PBS NewsHour Weekend full episode June 24, 2017 By PBS News Hour On this edition for Saturday, June 24, President Trump signs a new law meant to improve accountability at the Veterans Administration, and some communities are creating their own school districts. Later, a look at concerns over understaffing and overcrowding at… Continue watching
Jun 08 House to act on VA accountability; Democrats wary on private care By Hope Yen, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The House will vote next week on Senate-passed legislation to make firing employees easier for the troubled Department of Veterans Affairs, as the department sought to speed forward on initiatives urged by President Donald Trump to expand private… Continue reading
Jan 11 Trump picks Veterans Affairs insider to lead agency By Hope Yen, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday tapped the Department of Veterans Affairs' top health official to lead a beleaguered agency struggling to meet the health needs of millions of veterans. Continue reading
Dec 07 Free mental health clinics open to veterans tired of long wait times By Anna Gorman, Kaiser Health News Over the past three years, the sprawling VA system has come under fire from Congress and the media because veterans were waiting too long to see a doctor. Now, a new chain of free mental health clinics for vets has… Continue reading
Nov 12 Four things Trump can do to improve mental health care for veterans By Leah Samuel, STAT Donald Trump will take office in January with strong support among veterans, and he’s made reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs a key part of his platform. Continue reading
Nov 11 Watch 5:29 What veterans are expecting from President Trump By PBS News Hour In Tuesday’s presidential contest, veterans preferred Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton at a rate of nearly 2 to 1, according to exit poll data. So on this Veterans Day, what are former military service members expecting from the new president?… Continue watching
Jun 02 Justice Dept. backs fired VA official in legal challenge By Matthew Daly, Associated Press The Justice Department is siding with a legal argument by a fired Department of Veterans Affairs official at the center of a nationwide scandal over long wait times for veterans seeking medical care and secret lists covering up the delays. Continue reading