Senator Steve Daines today commended the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for addressing Montana veterans’ long standing concerns and taking steps to ensure veterans are able to receive health care services close to home.

The VA announced today that it is reforming its calculation used to determine distance between a veteran’s residence and the nearest VA health facility when allowing veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility to receive care closer to home.

“Our veterans deserve the utmost respect and best care that our country can offer. I’m glad the VA is taking an important step forward to better serve all of our nation’s veterans,” Daines stated. “Our veterans’ ability to receive the care they need should not be contingent on where they choose to live. While this reform is certainly welcome news, the VA still has a long way to go to ensure that our veterans have access to the care they need — especially specialized health services. I will continue fighting to ensure that all our veterans receive the support and care they have earned and well deserve.”

In the House, Daines successfully worked to pass multiple pieces of legislation including H.R. 4810, the Veterans Access to Care Act, which would require the VA to offer non-VA care at the Department’s expense to any enrolled veteran who cannot get an appointment within the VA wait time goals or who lives more than 40 miles away from a VA  medical facility.

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