$16.3B VA reform bill signed into law

President Obama signed into law a $16.3 billion bill to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve better access to care after several VA centers covered up long wait times.

The mismanagement had led to the ouster of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki earlier this year—Robert McDonald has since taken the top VA job.

The bill “gives the VA more of the resources they need,” said President Obama in a speech preceding the signing. This includes the building of more facilities and hiring of more physicians and nurses, funding for veterans to receive private healthcare and more power to fire or discipline senior officials.

The law also leverages health IT to address wait time delays, as it includes provisions to create a special task force to examine the current scheduling software system and recommend potential improvements. The bill provides funding to update the scheduling software system as well.

In addition, the VA reform law expands telehealth services to allow better access to veterans in rural or underserved areas—funding more mobile VA centers and mobile medical units.

Health IT Now—a coalition of patient groups, provider organizations, employers and payers—applauded lawmakers for including telemedicine at the core of the VA reform bill. “[The House Veterans Affairs Committee understands] the potential to decrease wait times, improve care and decrease cost,” Health IT Now said in a statement.