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VA Community Care Program
Episode 3095 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the VA Community Care program. The featured story appeared in the Osceola News Gazette of Kissimmee, Florida and is titled: Veteran’s Voice — VA expands Community Care; pending legislation will add more options. The story was submitted by Terry Lloyd on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
Lloyd reported that The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving healthcare access for veterans through recent enhancements to its Community Care program. As of August, the VA has expanded the duration of new community care authorizations to a full year for 30 standardized types of care, significantly reducing the administrative burden of frequent reevaluations and helping prevent interruptions in vital services. These services span key areas such as cardiac care, women’s health, mental health, and addiction treatment—ensuring veterans receive continuous, high-quality care close to home when needed.
Building on this momentum, the proposed Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to codify community care eligibility and access standards into law, ensuring consistency and accountability across the system. It also introduces periodic review of care, particularly in mental health and addiction services—highlighting the VA’s ongoing dedication to holistic veteran health. While some fear the Act could lead to future privatization, it currently stands as a move toward greater access and transparency.
In a parallel effort to support all veterans, recent findings from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have brought long-overdue attention to Vietnam veterans’ exposure to toxic burn pits. Although the PACT Act made significant strides for more recent veterans, the GAO’s acknowledgment of Vietnam-era burn pit exposure calls for renewed action. This underscores the VA’s essential role in not only delivering healthcare but in persistently advocating for justice and recognition for all who served.
CLICK HERE For more information about the ACCESS Act.
CLICK HERE For more on burn pit benefits.
Listen to Episode 3095 and discover more about the VA Community Care Program.
