Mission Act coming to VA

As June approaches, you may be hearing a lot about “The Mission Act,” and wondering what the June 6, 2019 implementation date will mean for your health care.

Hall

The Mission Act is short for the “Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks” (MISSION) Act. It will replace the Veteran’s Choice Program and is the law that defines how VA works with community providers to meet the health care needs of our veterans. No – it does not mean “privatization” of VA. What it does mean is a better way of working with our community partners to provide non-VA care when it’s needed.

Eligibility for non-VA care through the Mission Act may include one or more of six basic criteria. They are:

• If the service is not available at VA but is covered in the medical benefits package. For example, maternity care or in-vitro fertilization may qualify.

• If there is no full-service VA medical facility in the state or territory, such as Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marina Islands, and the Virgin Islands

• Grandfathered eligibility from when a Veteran was enrolled in the “Choice 40” program, because they lived more than 40 miles from primary care, continue to reside in that location, received care between June 6, 2017 and June 6, 2018, and require care before June 6, 2020 (or live in ND, SD, MT, AK, or WY.)

• If the needed service involves “excess average drive time or appointment wait-time.” For drive time, that means 30 minutes for primary care, mental health, and non-institutional extended care, or 60 minutes for specialty care. For wait-time, that means over 20 days for primary care, mental health, and non-institutional extended care, or 28 days for specialty care.

• If the VA clinician and the veteran determine it is in the “best medical interest” for the veteran to receive community care.

• Or if the VA medical center service is not meeting established quality standards of care.

In other words, the Mission Act will strengthen VA’s health care system by improving care delivery and empowering veterans to find the balance that is right for them. Some aspects of the Mission Act — such as an expanded Caregiver Support Program — are not yet ready for full implementation, but are expected to be in effect by 2020.

I believe the Mission Act will make scheduling appointments easier, care coordination between VA and community providers better, and payment of those non-VA providers faster. Simply put, we will provide better customer service. These are exciting times!

Veterans enrolled for VA health care can expect to receive a letter detailing their benefits under the Mission Act, and we at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center will also do all we can to help our patients understand their benefits.

Under the Mission Act, VA will continue to be a trusted, caring partner for our veterans. We want to meet you where you are, with the right care, at the right place, at the right time. And at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, we remain focused on providing an excellent experience for you and the important people in your life.

In short, the Mission Act is yet another reason why veterans eligible for health care should enroll.

If you are already enrolled, you will soon feel the effects of this improved program. If you are not – help a vet; enroll.

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Dr. Patricia Hall is the Medical Center Director of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center since 2016. She is a retired Army colonel and Bronze Star recipient, who completed two tours in Afghanistan where she commanded a hospital in a combat zone.