Annual funding for some government agencies, including portions of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), expires at midnight tonight—December 20, 2024. In preparation for a potential government shutdown, the VA is preparing for all probabilities to include the possibility of a lapse in funding. This lapse would mean that some portions of the government would cease certain functions due to the lack of funding.

We know that this situation can cause stress and some confusion on whether veterans health care services and benefits will continue to be delivered. Please be assured that most essential VA operations will continue without interruption if there is a shutdown. Thanks to DAV’s advocacy efforts years prior, VA benefits payments and health care are funded through advance appropriation, meaning that no veteran, surviving spouse or dependent eligible to receive VA benefits will miss a payment.

VA projects that most of its work force would be fully funded or continue to perform expected functions during a shutdown. The Veterans Crisis Line will continue operating uninterrupted, burials and interments at veterans cemeteries will continue, as will many other essential services.

The possibility of a government shutdown should not sound the alarm to the potential of veterans losing the hard-earned benefits they deserve. We hope that Congress can work together in a bipartisan way to prevent a shutdown that impacts any of VA’s services.

Details on VA’s Contingency Plan for a potential lapse in appropriations can be found here.

Government reimbursement rates for certain types of highly specialized emergency transportation have been significantly lower than the true costs of providing such services.

Earlier this year, the VA finalized a proposed rule change to cut its reimbursement rate for emergency air medical transportation. During health emergencies, this reduction could put an estimated 4.7 million veterans living in rural and remote communities, who already struggle to get reliable access to health care, at even greater risk.

H.R. 5530, the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act, would limit the VA’s ability to change payment rates for transporting veterans and eligible individuals on specialized transportation modes.

DAV supports H.R. 5530, in accordance with DAV Resolution No. 323, which calls on VA to provide equitable access to transportation options for veterans who need specialized forms of transportation to VA facilities.

We call on DAV members and supporters to contact their representative and urge them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 5530, the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act.

The Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act, or the BEST for Vets Act, would ensure that only licensed health care professionals furnish disability examinations under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Disability Examination Office.

The BEST for Vets Act states that, “no examination as part of this program will be conducted by any health care professional other than a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, audiologist, or psychologist that has a current unrestricted license to practice that health care profession.” Additionally, the bill would require the VA to provide an annual report to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees.

VA compensation and pension exams are vital to the disability claims process in determining the existence of current conditions and whether or not a veteran’s illness or injury is related to their military service. In many cases, these exams are the linchpin to establish or deny a claimed benefit making it incredibly important that the appropriate licensed health care professional conduct these exams.

In accordance with DAV Resolution No. 220, DAV strongly supports S. 280 and H.R. 7434—the BEST for Vets Act, which will ensure our nation’s veterans are afforded professional opinions in the development of their disability claims.

Please urge your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor the BEST for Vets Act. Thank you for supporting service-disabled veterans, their families and survivors.

BACKGROUND:

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is inviting the OKC area Veterans to call into the Community Care Veterans Tele-Town Hall on Thursday, January 11^th from, 11:30am to 12:30pm.

OKC staff, Health Care Providers and Veterans Benefits Association (VBA) will be on hand to answer questions about Community Care, Travel, VA Benefits, eligibility, Veteran programs, new virtual resources, OKC ongoing improvements and much more.

If you would like to join the call you must dial into the program on 11 January from 1130am-12:30pm by calling 1-833-305-1730 to attend.

This is a chance for Veterans to ask those questions they may have about what Veteran Affairs can do for them.

For questions about the event please contact: Carmen Daugherty at 405-416-0279.