U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and U.S. Representatives Mike Flood (NE-01), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Adrian Smith (NE-03) recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal urging the VA to create a new rural veteran referral pilot program in Nebraska to improve care coordination between the VA and rural providers. Approximately 40% of veterans in Nebraska live in rural areas, with many living hours away from a VA health facility.
“We believe that creating a new program to improve care coordination between the VA and rural providers in the community is needed. Fortunately, Nebraska is in a unique position to lead this effort,” the Members wrote.
“The rural veteran referral program will enhance access and choice for veterans who live in rural communities, and afford them more options for their health care. We are hopeful that once this program is established in Nebraska, it can eventually be leveraged across the entire NRHA network of providers across rural America,” the Members continued.
The Fischer-backed VA MISSION Act created the Community Care Program, which enables veterans who meet certain requirements, such as living more than a 60-minute drive from a VA facility, to receive care in the community paid for by the VA.
However, because this care is received at non-VA providers, it can often be difficult for community providers to effectively and efficiently communicate with the VA about the health care needs of a veteran and provide them with timely referrals for care in their community.
The Rural Veteran Referral Program would be the first program to link rural critical access hospitals to the VA. Additionally, the pilot will marry data via Oracle Cerner and the VA to provide a more holistic clinical picture of veteran encounters in our rural communities. The program would effectively double the network capacity of the VA and provide choice and local health care resources for veterans.
Full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear Under Secretary Elnahal:
As you know, the VA MISSION Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a high-performing and integrated health care network to ensure continuity and coordination of care for veterans seeking care in the community.
We have observed the efforts the VA has undertaken to carry out this directive, including the pilot programs in Orlando, Florida and Columbia, South Carolina, to improve care coordination between the Veterans Health Administration and health providers in the community.
As a delegation, we understand that care coordination and communication between the VA and providers in the community is essential to ensuring that our veterans have timely access to quality care. This is particularly the case in states with large rural areas, such as Nebraska, where veterans often live hours from the nearest VA facility, and community care options are a necessity.
We believe that creating a new program to improve care coordination between the VA and rural providers in the community is needed. Fortunately, Nebraska is in a unique position to lead this effort. Leslie Marsh, the 2023 President of the National Rural Health Association (NHRA) and the CEO of Lexington Regional Hospital in Nebraska, has worked to obtain support from the state’s VA Medical Centers and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for a rural veteran referral program.
The rural veteran referral program will enhance access and choice for veterans who live in rural communities, and afford them more options for their health care. We are hopeful that once this program is established in Nebraska it can eventually be leveraged across the entire NRHA network of providers across rural America.
As a delegation, we stand ready to work with you and your colleagues at the VA and the NRHA to implement this critical program in Nebraska and ensure that it succeeds in improving care for our rural veterans.