March 25, 2015

Lujan: VA Change to 40-Mile Rule a Commonsense Step Forward to Better Meet the Needs of New Mexico Veterans

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District highlighted a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to modify a rule that determines eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program.  Under the current version, veterans are eligible to seek care for a doctor outside the VA system if they are more than 40 miles away from a VA facility “as the crow flies.”  The announced change will measure driving distance, enabling more veterans to receive care closer to home.

“In rural communities across New Mexico, veterans have had to travel great distances to receive the care they have earned with their brave service.  Under the Veterans Choice Program, Congress took an important step to make it easier for them to receive care closer to their own communities,” Congressman Luján said.  “As we know in New Mexico, the path between two points is not always a straight line; it’s through mountain passes and valleys.  The announced change to this rule is a commonsense step to reflect the realities we face in rural communities, to better meet the needs of New Mexico’s veterans and to better follow the intent of the law.”

The Veterans Choice Program was created as part of the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, which passed with Luján’s support last July.  The law provides key funding to reduce the VA backlog, hire new medical personnel at VA hospitals and clinics, and allow the VA to lease new medical facilities.

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