The Senate approved Veterans Affairs healthcare funding legislation allocating $2.1 billion for the Veterans Choice Program for the next six months, according to a Washington Examiner report.
Senators approved the legislation Tuesday following House approval last week. The funding boost comes as VA Secretary David Shulkin, MD, has said the Veterans Choice Program is slated to run out of money by mid-August.
The Veterans Choice Program stems from the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act signed into law by former President Barack Obama in 2014 and allows veterans to receive private care rather than deal with long wait times at VA facilities. The VA foots the bill.
The approved legislation's total cost is $3.9 billion. In addition to the $2.1 billion in Veterans Choice Program funding, the legislation also includes new leases for VA medical centers.
"Congress took an important step...in helping the VA to continue to build an integrated system that allows veterans to receive the best healthcare possible, whether from VA or the private sector," Dr. Shulkin said in a prepared statement. "The $2.1 billion in Choice funding ensures there will be no disruptions to quality care for our veterans. Our veterans have earned and deserve the best care possible and we will keep raising that bar with the help and support of our congressional leaders."
The legislation now heads to President Donald Trump, according to the report.