The House greenlighted a Veterans Affairs emergency spending package which allocates $2.1 billion for the Veterans Choice program.
Lawmakers approved the $3.9 billion emergency spending legislation Thursday. VA Secretary David Shulkin, MD, has said the Choice program is slated to run out of money by mid-August.
The 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.
In addition to the $2.1 billion, the legislation also includes $1.8 billion for core VA health programs, according to an Associated Press report published by the News & Observer. This includes nearly 30 leases for new VA medical facilities.
The House rejected a previous plan that would have boosted the Choice Program by rerouting $2 billion from existing VA programs. The Senate will now consider the new plan.