Ten years after a scandal over wait times at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers sparked new programs to increase veterans' access to private health care services, a divided Congress is debating the future of VA medical care and how best to fund the department.
The VA has requested $369.3 billion for its fiscal 2025 budget, including nearly $150 billion for health care. Within that amount, the VA has allocated $86 billion for care provided in VA hospitals and clinics and $41 billion for private network care.
The rise in cost and utilization of the latter, commonly referred to as community care, and the Biden administration's focus on providing care to veterans in VA facilities, have set off debate among lawmakers during this year's budget deliberations over how to fund VA care and where veterans should get their medical treatment.
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Democrats largely want to strengthen the VA's own medical infrastructure and staff, which they argue is less expensive and provides better care for veterans, while Republicans want the VA to focus on providing quality care while also allowing veterans to choose who they want to see, including outside the VA.
VA officials have warned that the department's community care budget is growing unsustainably, and they favor improving VA programs and services and ensuring that veterans get care in VA hospitals…
