U.S. Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) today joined 80 of his colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, urging him to prioritize care for rural veterans. Veterans in rural areas face challenges with accessing quality care because many VA resources are devoted to urban areas. The letter discusses improving overall access to care for rural veterans through creative solutions, cross-agency collaboration, public-private partnerships, and improved rural broadband.
Excerpt from the letter:
“Each and every veteran that serves our country deserves to have easy access to VA care and benefits they have rightfully earned. While many veterans choose to retire and work in communities with close access to VA facilities, almost a quarter of all veterans in the United States return from military careers to reside in rural communities. We want to work with you to ensure that these veterans in our districts, and countless others, are not excluded because of where they choose to live.
“Rural communities can face challenges such as less access to care, fewer physician practices, less overall infrastructure to support the level of care needed, fewer transportation options, greater distance barriers, and limited broadband internet.
“We urge you to prioritize and give your personal attention to this important population of rural veterans. We stand ready to assist you in whatever way we can.”
Original source can be found here.
