Veterans Health Care

ASCs proudly provide high-quality surgical and preventive care, including orthopedic, endoscopic and pain management, among many other important procedures, for veterans across the country. Unfortunately, extreme delays in reimbursement limit access for veterans to receive care in ASCs.

ASCA endeavors to improve this issue and help its members continue to deliver high-quality, efficient and cost-effective care to veterans. Below are related legislation that will improve veterans’ access to surgical services.

Veterans Deserve Better Act

In March 2018, ASCA endorsed the Veterans Deserve Better Act (H.R. 4783/S. 2239), introduced by Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (D-NV) in the US House of Representatives and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in the US Senate. This measure requires that non-VA provider claims be reimbursed in 30-45 days. Download ASCA's endorsement letter here.

VA MISSION Act of 2018

In June, President Trump signed into law the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018 (H.R. 5674), which will significantly reform the VA health care system. The VA MISSION Act will coalesce all non-VA provider programs into one Veterans Community Care Program in 2019 and institute a new, more reliable claims reimbursement process. Specifically, this measure includes the reimbursement language ASCA endorsed as part of the Veterans Deserve Better Act. In addition to the new claims reimbursement process, the VA MISSION Act authorizes local provider agreements with the Veterans Health Administration that, according to the US Senate bill summary, will “remove bureaucratic red tape and meet veterans’ need for care in the community.”

See ASCA’s press release to read a statement from CEO William Prentice and refer to a bill summary for more details on the VA MISSION Act.

For more information on veterans issues and other federal legislative activity, contact Jeff Evans at jevans@ascassociation.org.