Advocates worry funding to veteran healthcare program could end

Advocates say federal money that pays for veterans to get healthcare at places other than at a VA hospital like or a VA clinic could be gone in two months.

Without that money, advocates say some veterans will be waiting again.

This food drive is one of the things Renee Elder, a veteran herself, is doing to help other veterans.

She says they also help with counseling, and getting patient care for vets.

“Basically there’s a lot of veterans that come in here with PTSD,” said Elder.

But she says there’s one thing making their recovery even more difficult.

“Sometimes the VA is not available, I have to wait to get an appointment,” said Elder.

And they’re not alone, complaints of long waits for veterans prompted a program called the “VA choice program.”

“If the VA cannot see you within 30 days or does not have a VA facility within 40 miles then you get to go to the community,” said Bob Carey, Veteran Advocate and Independence Fund Policy Director.

But by this summer in late May or June, advocates say there won’t be money to run the program, and advocates worry that could turn into a change for the worst.

“They’re gonna have to wait longer or they’re gonna have to travel further,” said Carey.

Advocates took that message from Fayetteville to lawmakers in Washington.

Lawmakers say they recently approved a spending bill for the VA, but it did not include money to go to the choice program.

“It’s making a difference for our veterans but we got a whole lot of work to do,” said Rep. Richard Hudson.

And Fort Bragg’s congressman says they he and other lawmakers will continue pushing to come to a solution before the deadline.

Advocates say they’ll continue to push for a deal to fund the choice program but right now whether they get any money is still up in the air.