Veterans Deserve Care, a grassroots coalition committed to reducing wait times in VA facilities, applauded a decision by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to finalize a rule allowing veterans to receive high-quality care by providing direct access to nurse practitioners.
The new rule, set to take effect in January 2017, has been touted as one of the simplest and most effective ways to cut wait times at VA facilities nationwide.
Mark C. Stevenson, the Chief Operating Officer of the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), one such organization supporting Veterans Deserve Care, issued the following statement about the new rule and its future implications:
“Thousands of veterans, their families, and caregivers created a groundswell of support for this measure and today their efforts have been rewarded. This a win for veterans waiting to receive care at VA facilities across our country, who now can have direct access to nurse practitioners who tirelessly work to ensure we receive the best possible care. While there’s still work to be done, this rule moves us in the right direction.”
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