(Photo: Gabriel Vanslette)
Several Veterans organizations are voicing strong support for the Complete the Mission Act of 2024, a bill aimed at improving access to timely healthcare through the VA, according to Stars & Stripes. Introduced by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the legislation seeks to enhance transparency and provide Veterans with better options for private-sector care when VA services are unavailable.
The Complete the Mission Act would require the VA to disclose wait times for appointments, explain cancellations, and offer rescheduling options, including referrals to private clinicians. It also codifies existing VA standards for referrals, mandating timely care—no more than 20 days for primary and mental health services and 30 days for specialty care. If these benchmarks are not met, Veterans would be referred to private providers registered in the VA’s healthcare network.
Additionally, it establishes a standardized screening process for Veterans with serious mental health or substance abuse issues, ensuring timely inpatient care through either VA facilities or private options when needed. Chairman Bost stated that the legislation builds on the foundation of the Mission Act of 2018, which allowed Veterans to access private care when VA services were unavailable. However, he stated that inconsistent implementation of the 2018 law has hindered its effectiveness.
“The Mission Act transformed healthcare for Veterans,” Bost said. “But under the current administration, we’ve seen VA bureaucrats stand in the way of community care access. My bill ensures that following these standards is not optional—it’s the law.”
The Complete the Mission Act would also require VA facilities to post average wait times by specialty and provide Veterans with information about how to appeal decisions that deny private-sector care referrals.
While the legislation has received widespread backing, VA leaders have expressed concerns about its potential impact on VA facilities. VA Secretary Denis McDonough argued that referrals for private-sector care should focus on quality outcomes rather than convenience, cautioning that the popularity of community care could shift resources away from VA facilities. Kristina Keenan, Deputy Director for National Legislative Services at Veterans of Foreign Wars, emphasized the need for the VA to better manage its resources.
“The VA must prioritize delivering timely care with the resources it already has,” Keenan said.
Public Policy Analyst George Strickland pointed out the need for modernization within the VA system. Despite an expanded budget and a smaller Veteran population compared to past decades, the VA continues to face operational challenges.
“This bill is overdue,” Strickland said. “The VA is stuck in the past, and there hasn’t been enough effort to overhaul its performance in recent years. Veterans deserve a system that works consistently, no matter where they live.”
The Complete the Mission Act is currently under review in the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Supporters hope the legislation will address delays and inconsistencies that have long plagued the VA system, ensuring Veterans receive the care they have earned.
“Every Veteran deserves timely, efficient healthcare,” Bost said. “This legislation puts Veterans—not bureaucracy—at the center of the VA’s healthcare system.”
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.