Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
We're working to fix a technical issue causing problems with our broadcasts. We'll have it resolved as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Tester: VA 'Choice Card' Program Needs Work

Sen. Jon Tester (D) Montana
Courtesy photo

Senator Jon Tester says the Veterans Administration’s new Choice Card program got off to a  “shaky” start. The Choice Card is a new program that lets veterans use private medical care if their nearest VA facility is too busy or too far away.

Speaking to reporters Thursday in Washington, the Montana Democrat said the VA hasn’t done a good job of working with veterans’ groups and health care providers to make sure vets know how to use their Choice Card.

"They need to utilize the veteran service organizations that are out there, whether it’s the Disabled American Veterans or the American Legion. And then we need to a better job building partnerships with the local hospitals and care providers in the different communities that the VA outsources some of their work to."

Tester also criticized the Republican-led Appropriations Committee for proposing a VA budget that, he says, under-funds the agency by close to a billion dollars.

Republican Senator Steve Daines Thursday took credit for adding “important reforms” to the VA budget, such as instructing the Veterans Affairs Secretary to give higher priority to rural states deciding where to place new veterans’ homes.
 

Become a sustaining member for as low as $5/month
Make an annual or one-time donation to support MTPR
Pay an existing pledge or update your payment information
Related Content