Metro East Sun

Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost introduced the Complete the Mission Act of 2024. This legislation aims to protect veterans' access to community-based healthcare provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill seeks to codify current access standards and mandates that the VA publish wait times for all its medical centers, establishing a baseline expectation for timely care.

“The MISSION Act transformed the delivery of healthcare to veterans across the nation, especially in rural and remote areas of the country. But under the Biden-Harris administration we have seen VA bureaucrats standing in the way of veterans’ community care access. That is unacceptable. Following the MISSION Act standards is not optional – it is the law,” said Chairman Bost. “My bill would rightfully make permanent the current access standards, would require VA to publish their wait times for all VA medical centers, and would establish a defined screening process for veterans in need of substance abuse treatment without the hassle and wait. Every veteran has earned timely options for quality healthcare to meet their needs – no bureaucrat is allowed to stand in the way of that.”

Since this Congress began, oversight letters concerning VA community care access have been sent by the Committee, alongside hearings on substance abuse treatment access and care coordination. Visits across the country have been conducted to engage with veterans and VA providers about issues with implementing MISSION Act standards properly. Concerns have been raised regarding efforts by officials appointed by the Biden-Harris administration to reduce veterans' health care choices by pulling care back into VA facilities.

The Complete the Mission Act of 2024 aims to ensure accountability within VA operations and maintain adherence to MISSION Act standards, placing veterans at the forefront of healthcare decisions rather than bureaucratic processes.