WASHINGTON, DC (WSAU) — A change in how the Veterans Affairs hospitals are handling their VA choice program means more veterans in Wisconsin are getting the chance to choose their doctors.
The Choice program allows patients that live outside of 40 miles from a VA center to pick a local facility to get treatment. But under the old rules, that was 40 miles of geographical distance. Congressman Reid Ribble says that often put many of his constituents on the other side of Green Bay in Door County and veterans living on lakes in Northern Wisconsin hours away from their nearest hospital or clinic.
The new ruling makes that 40 mile limit a driving distance instead. Ribble says the change improves the ease by which veterans can get medical care. “Wisconsin is a rural state just in general, but all throughout northern Wisconsin it’s absolutely critical because we have our veterans sometimes travelling several hundred miles to go see a VA doctor.”
Ribble adds that the VA is doing a fantastic job for veterans across the state. “I’ve got a lot of veterans who love the VA and are getting terrific care at the VA. And so we want to make sure that for those veterans, they get to go to the VA. But those that live further away, if they’re suffering long wait times, we want them to see a doctor of their choice right away.” He wants to be able to reassure patients and families that care is local if they need it. “Well it certainly gives a level of comfort to veterans and particularly their family members that they can get the service at the provider that they would prefer to go to, if they would prefer to go to it.”
Veterans seeking to use the Veterans Choice Program should call the VA at 1-866-606-8198 to confirm their eligibility and to schedule an appointment. Since the Choice Program went into effect on November 5, 2014, more than 45,000 medical appointments have been scheduled.