On November 18, the United States House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill with an extensive list of changes to the way the Department of Veterans (VA) provides health care and benefits. Senator Elizabeth Dole 21street Century Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act It brings together several bills that legislators presented to Congress.
“Among its provisions, the Dole Act would expand pay flexibilities for some VA health care workers and set new standards for how the VA provides care to veterans,” said Jory Heckman of the Federal News Network explained. “The bill would also require the VA to develop a plan to expand same-day scheduling of medical appointments.”
“The Dole Act requires every VA physician, podiatrist, optometrist, and dentist to receive an annual salary evaluation, and would give the VA more flexibility to offer salary awards, as well as hiring, retention, and relocation bonuses to these healthcare workers,” Heckman reported. on November 19.
“Many provisions in this bill would improve care and benefits for veterans and survivors, and we believe some provisions would save lives. Certain components of this bill, such as expansions for caregivers, are long overdue,” Pat Murray, director of the VFW’s National Legislative Service, said in a statement.
